Attitudes toward AI and ethical sensitivity appear to represent distinct dimensions of professional competence and integrating AI-related ethical content into nursing curricula may support the development of both digital and ethical competencies in future nurses.
Abstract
Background
The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare is transforming nursing practice and clinical decision-making. However, evidence regarding the relationship between nursing students' attitudes toward AI and ethical sensitivity remains limited.
Aim
This study examined the relationship between nursing students' attitudes toward AI and their ethical sensitivity in patient care and identified factors associated with these variables.
Methods
This descriptive, cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 278 nursing students at a public university in Türkiye. Data were collected through an online survey using the Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire in Nurses (ESQN), the Artificial Intelligence Attitude Scale-Short Form (AIAS-4), and a sociodemographic form. Data were analyzed using non-parametric tests, Spearman's correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses.
Results
The mean ESQ-N score was 39.82 ± 5.41, and the mean AIAS-4 score was 27.16 ± 6.82. Ethical sensitivity scores differed significantly according to AI ethics education (p = 0.008). AI attitudes differed significantly by academic year (χ2(3) = 8.04, p = 0.018), with fourth-year students reporting higher scores than first-year students (p_adj < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between ESQ-N and AIAS-4 scores (p > 0.05). Regression analyses showed that ethical sensitivity was predicted by academic year and AI ethics education (Adj. R2 = 0.13), whereas AI attitudes were predicted only by academic year (Adj. R2 = 0.15).
Conclusions
Attitudes toward AI and ethical sensitivity appear to represent distinct dimensions of professional competence. Integrating AI-related ethical content into nursing curricula may support the development of both digital and ethical competencies in future nurses.
The findings indicate that nursing students had generally positive levels of AI literacy and attitudes toward AI, and higher AI literacy was associated with more positive attitudes toward AI.
M. Çil, Berna Eren Fidancı, D. Yildiz· Journal of Education and Res...· 0 citations
Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between nursing students’ professional values (PVs) and their ethical sensitivities toward artificial intelligence (AI) and robot nurses, and to identify the factors influencing these variables.
Methods: This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted between January and February 2026 with 400 nursing students at a public university in Türkiye, in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Revised Nurses’ Professional Values Scale, and the Ethical Sensitivity Scale for AI and Robot Nurses.
Results: The mean Revised Nurses’ Professional Values Scale score was 101.24 ± 17.21 and the mean ethical sensitivity score was 54.74 ± 7.61. The scale scores differed significantly according to grade level and knowledge about AI (P < .05), whereas Ethical Sensitivity Toward AI and Robot Nurses Scale score differed according to perceptions of the impact of AI on the profession and potential ethical problems (P < .01). Professional values were positively correlated with ethical sensitivity (r = 0.156, P < .01). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that PVs, gender, and perceptions of the impact of AI on the profession were significant predictors of ethical sensitivity, explaining 14% of the variance.
Conclusion: Nursing students exhibited high PVs and moderate-to-high ethical sensitivity toward AI and robot nurses. Although PVs were positively associated with ethical sensitivity, the relatively low explained variance suggests that ethical sensitivity is influenced by multiple factors. Integrating AI-related ethical content into nursing education may support ethical awareness and preparedness for technology-integrated care.
Cite this article as: Aktan GG, Palaz SC. Professional values and ethical sensitivity in digitalized care: nursing students’ approaches to artificial intelligence and robot nurses. Arch Health Sci Res. 2026, 52, 0107, doi: 10.5152/ArcHealthSciRes.2026.26107.
G. Aktan, S. Palaz· Archives of Health Science a...· 0 citations
The findings highlight the need for a supportive educational environment with guidance to enable nursing students to use artificial intelligence appropriately and responsibly when needed, particularly among vocational college students and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Hui-Ying Fan, Qing Zhou, Lili Deng et al.· BMC Nursing· 0 citations
In nursing practice, clinical decision-making is a critical competency that students must possess to ensure patient safety and the quality of nursing care. This process is influenced not only by cognitive abilities but also by emotional intelligence, which helps students remain objective when facing complex and high-pressure clinical situations. Although various studies have examined the relationship between the two, the results obtained remain inconsistent. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the relationship between emotional intelligence and clinical decision-making among students in the Professional Nursing Program using a descriptive correlational design and a cross-sectional approach. A total of 107 students from three nursing education institutions in Banda Aceh were selected as participants using consecutive sampling. Emotional intelligence was measured using the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, while clinical decision-making ability was measured using the Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing Scale. Data analysis was performed using Spearman’s correlation test. The results of the study indicate a positive and significant relationship between emotional intelligence and clinical decision-making (r=0.259; p= 0.007). Among all dimensions of emotional intelligence, Understanding of Emotion showed the strongest and most significant relationship with all components of clinical decision-making (p = 0.001), whereas the dimensions of Utilisation of Emotion and Regulation of Emotion did not show a significant relationship. Emotional intelligence plays a role in supporting clinical decision-making abilities among students in the Professional Nursing Program. Therefore, the development of emotional intelligence needs to be integrated into nursing education to support the improvement of students’ clinical decision-making abilities.
Irfanita Nurhidayah, Yullyzar, Nani Safuni et al.· Jurnal Ners dan Kebidanan (J...· 0 citations
Findings show that nursing students who feel more prepared for AI tend to be less anxious about technology and add AI training more consistently throughout the nursing curriculum and building digital skills may help reduce fear and make it easier for students to use AI tools in the future.
This study aims to determine the relationship between the moral intelligence of intensive care nurses and their attitudes towards medical errors. The study was designed as a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The study sample consisted of 158 nurses working in intensive care units at a university hospital. Data were collected using a personal information form and two scales: the Yakut Moral Intelligence Scale and the Attitude towards Medical Errors Scale. Descriptive statistics, an independent samples t-test, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyse the data. The results showed that nurses’ attitudes towards medical errors were moderately high (mean score: 3.72 ± 0.70), and their moral intelligence scores were moderate (mean score: 79.53 ± 11.47). No significant differences were found according to gender or educational level (p > .05). A strong positive significant correlation was found between moral intelligence and attitudes towards medical errors (r = .850, p < .01). The findings suggest that higher moral intelligence is associated with more positive attitudes toward medical errors and may contribute to strengthening patient safety culture.