THE ETHICAL DIMENSIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN NURSING PRACTICE: BALANCING INNOVATION AND HUMAN CARE

Chris N. Anazia*

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping modern healthcare delivery, and nursing practice stands at the intersection of technology and human care. While AI promises efficiency, precision, and predictive insight, it also introduces ethical complexities that challenge the foundational values of the nursing profession. As AI systems become increasingly embedded in clinical workflows, decision support, and patient engagement, nurses are confronted with new moral dilemmas regarding autonomy, accountability, privacy, and equity. These technologies may enhance efficiency and safety, yet they also risk depersonalizing care and diminishing the empathetic relationships that define nursing practice. This scoping review examines how AI influences nurse autonomy, patient safety, equity, accountability, and professional identity. Guided by PRISMA-ScR, peer-reviewed literature (2010–2025) across clinical, educational, and administrative contexts was analyzed thematically. Five domains recur: (1) data governance, privacy, and bias mitigation; (2) human–AI collaboration and role boundaries; (3) transparency, explainability, and trust; (4) accountability, safety, and liability; and (5) implementation readiness, training, and policy alignment. Findings indicate that AI can augment decision-making and outcomes yet risk algorithmic bias, data misuse, depersonalized care, and ambiguous responsibility when harm occurs. Ethical concerns extend beyond individual nurses to institutional governance and public trust. Ethical integration of AI in nursing requires nurse-led participation in design and governance, transparent documentation and auditing, equity-centred evaluation (including calibration and clinical utility), and continuous post-deployment monitoring. Sustaining human-centered care in the digital era demands policies and practices that balance innovation with compassion, ensuring that technological progress strengthens rather than undermines the moral and relational core of nursing.