The Role of AI in Nursing Education and Practice: Umbrella Review (Preprint)

Field: Nursing (Health Sciences)

BACKGROUND

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming health care, offering substantial advancements in patient care, clinical workflows, and nursing education.

OBJECTIVE

This umbrella review aims to evaluate the integration of AI into nursing practice and education, with a focus on ethical and social implications, and to propose evidence-based recommendations to support the responsible and effective adoption of AI technologies in nursing.

METHODS

We included systematic reviews, scoping reviews, rapid reviews, narrative reviews, literature reviews, and meta-analyses focusing on AI integration in nursing, published up to October 2024. A new search was conducted in January 2025 to identify any potentially eligible reviews published thereafter. However, no new reviews were found. Eligibility was guided by the Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research type framework; databases (PubMed or MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, and IEEE Xplore) were searched using comprehensive keywords. Two reviewers independently screened records and extracted data. Risk of bias was assessed with Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews, version 2 (AMSTAR 2), which we adapted for systematic and nonsystematic review types. A thematic synthesis approach, conducted independently by 2 reviewers, identified recurring patterns across the included reviews.

RESULTS

The search strategy yielded 18 eligible studies after screening 274 records. These studies encompassed diverse methodologies and focused on nursing professionals, students, educators, and researchers. First, ethical and social implications were consistently highlighted, with studies emphasizing concerns about data privacy, algorithmic bias, transparency, accountability, and the necessity for equitable access to AI technologies. Second, the transformation of nursing education emerged as a critical area, with an urgent need to update curricula by integrating AI-driven educational tools and fostering both technical competencies and ethical decision-making skills among nursing students and professionals. Third, strategies for integration were identified as essential for effective implementation, calling for scalable models, robust ethical frameworks, and interdisciplinary collaboration, while also addressing key barriers such as resistance to AI adoption, lack of standardized AI education, and disparities in technology access.

CONCLUSIONS

AI holds substantial promises for revolutionizing nursing practice and education. However, realizing this potential necessitates a strategic approach that addresses ethical concerns, integrates AI literacy into nursing curricula, and ensures equitable access to AI technologies. Limitations of this review include the heterogeneity of included studies and potential publication bias. Our findings underscore the need for comprehensive ethical frameworks and regulatory guidelines tailored to nursing applications, updated nursing curricula to include AI literacy and ethical training, and investments in infrastructure to promote equitable AI access. Future research should focus on developing standardized implementation strategies and evaluating the long-term impacts of AI integration on nursing practice and patient outcomes.