Generation Z nurses’ perceptions and experiences of smart technology use in critical care: a qualitative study in Shanghai, China

Smart technology is transforming the nursing field by providing significant opportunities to alleviate global resource shortages, optimize clinical workflows, improve patient outcomes, and enhance patient safety. Intensive care units (ICUs) are not only hubs for treating critically ill patients but also represent the clinical settings where smart technology is most widely adopted and where data are generated at the highest density. As the backbone of the nursing workforce, Generation Z nurses in China have unique generational characteristics shaped by their life experiences, which may influence their experiences with smart technology in the ICU. This study aimed to explore Generation Z nurses’ perceptions and experiences regarding the use of smart technology in the ICU. A descriptive phenomenological approach was used in this study. Between October and November 2025, using purposive sampling, 22 Generation Z nurses working in the ICU of a tertiary hospital in Shanghai were selected for semi-structured in-depth interviews. Participant recruitment and data collection continued until data saturation was reached. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step framework. The trustworthiness of the study findings was ensured through credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability. Three themes and thirteen subthemes were identified: (a) multidimensional empowerment in critical care (e.g., improving work efficiency, saving human resources), (b) enhancement of patient safety in critical care (e.g., extending the safety frontline, constructing safety barriers), and (c) strategies for core breakthroughs and future development (e.g., addressing alarm fatigue, improving systematic training). Generation Z nurses expressed positive attitudes toward smart technology in the ICU and believed it could improve patient safety. However, they also noted areas needing improvement, such as overly sensitive alarm systems and inadequate system stability. Managers and educators should develop targeted intervention strategies addressing technological, organizational, educational, and social dimensions. The results of this qualitative study may inform future intervention efforts.