Nurses’ Attitudes toward Artificial Intelligence Integration and Its Relationship to Clinical‑Decision‑Making

Abstract

This descriptive‑correlational study investigated 100 hospital‑based registered nurses to explore their attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) integration and its correlation with clinical‑decision‑making, as well as demographic influences on these two variables, and develop an intervention program. Data were collected via demographic questionnaire, Technology Acceptance Model‑based AI‑Attitude Scale and Clinical Decision‑Making in Nursing Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and one‑way ANOVA were adopted for data analysis. Results indicated that nurses held generally positive attitudes toward AI integration (M = 3.30), with high scores in perceived usefulness and readiness to use AI but low perceived ease‑of‑use. Their self‑reported clinical‑decision‑making was at a high level (M = 3.43), while evidence‑based knowledge application was the major competency gap. All dimensions of AI attitudes showed significant weak‑to‑moderate positive correlations with clinical‑decision‑making; readiness to use AI had the strongest correlation (r = 0.49, p < 0.001). Age and nursing experience were negatively correlated with AI attitudes but positively correlated with clinical‑decision‑making. Educational attainment exerted significant impacts on both variables, whereas gender and clinical unit showed no significant associations. A six‑month AI READY Nurse Program was proposed to improve nurses’ AI literacy and evidence‑based practice capacity. This study suggests that healthcare organizations should optimize the usability of clinical AI systems, carry out stratified AI‑literacy training, and clarify that AI only serves as an auxiliary clinical tool instead of replacing nurses’ professional judgment to promote safe AI implementation in nursing.