A Review of Barriers, Facilitators, and Contextual Factors for the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Education

Abstract

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common in healthcare and health professions education, but
it is still not consistently used in nursing programs because of a number of contextual factors. To help with effective
implementation and curriculum development, it’s important to know what makes it easier or harder for nursing schools
to use AI.
Methods: A scoping review was performed utilising the Peters et al. framework to delineate the current evidence
regarding AI integration in nursing and allied health professions education. A systematic search of Google Scholar,
PubMed, and Semantic Scholar yielded 1,245 records; subsequent screening and full-text evaluation resulted in 42 studies
that satisfied the inclusion criteria. Data from empirical studies, case reports, policy papers, and discussion articles were
extracted and thematically synthesised to identify principal barriers, facilitators, and contextual influences.
Results: Major problems included a lack of technological infrastructure, problems with interoperability, and a lack of
technical support. There were also gaps in knowledge and skills among teachers and students. Concerns about ethics and
privacy, a reluctance to change, a lack of resources, and unclear policies and regulations made it even harder for AI to
be adopted. Facilitators included active participation from stakeholders, thorough training focused on AI, a supportive
infrastructure, clear policy frameworks, proven benefits for learning and clinical decision-making, and collaboration
between different fields. Regional, cultural, and contextual disparities significantly impacted the degree and character of AI
integration, with affluent environments typically more equipped to adopt AI-enhanced education.
Conclusion: The integration of AI into nursing education is influenced by a complex interplay of technological, educational,
ethical, policy, and contextual factors. To make AI adoption in nursing curricula more meaningful, it is important to deal
with known barriers and strengthen facilitators using strategies that are sensitive to the context and have many different
parts. The review provides a foundation for creating standardised AI curricula, funding infrastructure, and guiding future
implementation research and policy in nursing education.