Doctor of Nursing Practice Students’ Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence Use in Nursing Education: A Qualitative Approach

Jill Kardously, Kholoud Hardan-Khalil, Michael Williams, Samantha Wee — 2026-04-29

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly integrated into higher education and healthcare environments, raising important ethical considerations for nursing education. AI tools can enhance learning and productivity; however, their use presents concerns regarding academic integrity, critical thinking, and responsible application in professional nursing practice. Aim: This qualitative study explored Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students’ perceptions of artificial intelligence use and ethical considerations within nursing education. A descriptive qualitative design using focus group methodology was employed. Methods: Twenty-eight BSN to DNP students from a large metropolitan university participated in three focus groups. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Four overarching themes emerged: (1) AI as a supportive learning tool, (2) ethical concerns related to academic integrity and over-reliance, (3) lack of institutional guidance regarding AI use, and (4) the need to prepare future nurses for AI-integrated healthcare environments. Participants viewed AI as a valuable academic support tool but emphasized the importance of maintaining critical thinking and professional judgment. Students also expressed uncertainty about acceptable AI use due to inconsistent faculty guidance. Conclusions: Findings suggest that nursing education programs should develop clearer policies and provide structured instruction on ethical AI use. Integrating AI literacy into nursing curricula may help prepare future nurses to engage responsibly with emerging technologies while maintaining the ethical standards central to nursing practice.

A Sleep Bundle Intervention to Promote Sleep Quality and Reduce Incidence Rate of Delirium among Critically Ill Patients

Asmaa A. Temraz, Naglaa M. El-Mokadem, Shaimaa E. Abdullah — 2026-06-01

Background: Sleep disruption is strongly linked to delirium, a common and serious complication in ICU patients, associated with longer hospital length of stays, higher mortality, and long-term cognitive decline. Sleep bundle interventions are multifaceted strategies designed to enhance sleep quality and reduce the risk of delirium in intensive care units (ICUs). Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a sleep bundle intervention to promote sleep quality and reduce incidence rate of delirium among critically ill patients. Setting: Medical, Surgical, and Anesthesia ICUs in a tertiary care hospital. Sample: A convenience sample of 120 critically ill patients. Design: Quasi-experimental design. Instruments: Demographic and clinical data sheet; Sleep Quality Scale Index; Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire; Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC); Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU); and APACHE II scale. Results: the intervention group showed significantly better sleep quality (31.78 ± 13.86) compared with the control group (54.38 ± 10.93) (p < 0.001). The incidence of delirium was significantly lower in the intervention group (0.33 ± 0.91) than the control group (0.83 ± 1.29) post-intervention (p = 0.03). The ICU length of stay was significantly shorter in the intervention group (4.15 ± 1.27 days) compared with the control group (4.75 ± 1.64 days; p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between severity of illness and delirium incidence rate in the study group (r = 0.619, p < 0.001) and the control group (r = 0.689, p < 0.001). Co-morbidities also correlated positively with delirium in the study group (r = 0.375, p < 0.001) and control groups (r = 0.617, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Sleep bundle intervention effectively improved sleep quality, reduced delirium incidence rate, and shortened ICU length of stay among critically ill patients. Recommendation: Integrating sleep bundle intervention into routine ICU care is recommended to enhance clinical outcomes among critically ill patients.

American Journal of Nursing Research

Doctor of Nursing Practice Students’ Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence Use in Nursing Education: A Qualitative Approach

A Sleep Bundle Intervention to Promote Sleep Quality and Reduce Incidence Rate of Delirium among Critically Ill Patients