PERCEPTION OF NURSING STUDENTS ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ITS ROLE IN NURSING

Abstract

Background: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has garnered increasing attention, with implications for nursing education and practice.
Aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the perceptions of nursing students at Northern Border University regarding AI and its role in nursing.
Methods: A cross-sectional approach was used among 202 nursing students from various academic levels. The data were collected through a self-structured survey questionnaire. The survey captured demographic information, AI usage, familiarity with AI tools, and perceptions related to AI in education and nursing practice. Statistical analyses, including Chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients test were employed to assess association and correlation respectively.
Results: Results revealed a diverse participant profile, with 44.6% of the samples were belongs to the age group of 17-20 years and 61.9% of the subjects were females. About 79.2% actively used AI technology in education, with 48.5% of the participants were expressing familiarity with AI tools. Challenges included 59.4% of the subjects found difficulties in using high-profile AI technology. Positive perceptions included 60% believing AI enhances learning experiences, while 55.4% agreed AI has low ability to assess emotional well-being. Significant associations existed between socio-demographic variables and perceptions. The study identified a nuanced correlation between socio-demographic variables and perceptions, emphasizing the importance of individual characteristics in shaping attitudes towards AI.
Conclusion: This study contributes valuable insights into the perceptions of nursing students regarding AI in nursing education and practice. This helps to digitally enable the nurses to provide safe and efficient health care services to the client and to attain Saudi mission 2030. The positive correlation suggests the need for targeted interventions to address challenges and capitalize on the potential benefits of AI in nursing. As the nursing profession plays a crucial role in the healthcare system, understanding how nursing students perceive and navigate this transformative wave of technology in their day to day practice is of utmost importance.