Nurses' experiences regarding role boundaries in collaborative AI-Assisted nursing: A meta-synthesis

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Sociology of Professions

Background:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into nursing, transforming practice and professional jurisdiction.
• Existing research lacks systematic theoretical integration regarding AI's impact on nursing.
• Abbott's Jurisdictional Framework is employed to analyze nurse-AI interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how nurses construct and maintain their professional jurisdiction in AI-assisted nursing.
• To identify institutional conditions that facilitate or constrain this process.

Main Methods:

• A meta-synthesis of 12 qualitative studies from six databases.
• Thematic synthesis followed Thomas and Harden's three-phase approach.
• Abbott's Jurisdictional Framework was used for thematic synthesis.

Main Results:

• Nurses engage in active "boundary work," asserting "final verification authority" and "decision deviation authority."
• They emphasize "humanistic care" as a distinct professional core.
• Obstacles include legal liability, skills training, and social trust, hindering collaboration.

Conclusions:

• The jurisdictional integration of AI and nursing is in a transitional phase.
• Nurses act as boundary-makers cognitively but responders institutionally.
• Sustainable collaboration needs legal clarity, algorithm literacy, and organizational support.