Nursing Students' Experiences With Artificial Intelligence: A Qualitative Study on Education, Clinical Practice, and Future Expectations

BACKGROUND: With the rapid advancement of technology in healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an important tool in nursing education and clinical practice. However, there is limited knowledge regarding nursing students' experiences with AI, its areas of use, and their expectations. AIM: This study aimed to explore nursing students' experiences with AI and to reveal its role in nursing education, clinical practice, and future expectations. METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological design was used. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 14 nursing students from a state university who had been using AI between June and August 2025. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form and a Semi-Structured Interview Form. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis method with the support of MAXQDA software. RESULTS: Six main themes and fourteen subthemes emerged: (1) First encounters with AI and sources of information, (2) AI in nursing education, (3) AI in clinical practice, (4) Benefits of AI, (5) Limitations and concerns regarding AI, and (6) Future expectations and recommendations. CONCLUSION: Nursing students perceived AI as a supportive tool but emphasized that it cannot replace human-centered care, empathy, or therapeutic communication. The findings highlight the need to integrate AI into nursing education and clinical practice within an ethical and pedagogical framework.