Nursing Students' Ethical Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Nursing Education.

BACKGROUND: As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly transforms health care delivery, nursing education must prepare students to engage with this technology in ethically responsible and human-centered ways. This study explored nursing students' ethical perspectives on AI and their concerns regarding its future integration into nursing practice. METHOD: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted with fourth-year nursing students (n = 18) selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Five main themes emerged: (1) functional contributions of AI to learning and clinical processes; (2) perceived clinical risks; (3) human-centered and holistic care; (4) ethics of care principles and ethical risks; and (5) inequality and justice in health care. CONCLUSION: Students expressed a balanced and cautious perspective, recognizing the potential benefits of AI while emphasizing the preservation of professional judgment, ethical responsibility, and human-centered care in nursing education and practice.