Research on artificial intelligence literacy among nursing professionals: a scoping review

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications are increasingly integrated into nursing practice. As key stakeholders, nursing professionals must possess adequate AI literacy. To address this need, a scoping review was conducted to systematically map and synthesize evidence regarding the core dimensions, assessment tools, and influencing factors of AI literacy in nursing. Following the Arksey and O’Malley framework, a scoping review was conducted by systematically searching seven literature databases, including PubMed, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, CNKI, Google Scholar, for literature published from January 2005 to 31 August 2025. The included studies were analyzed using a combination of descriptive analysis and thematic synthesis. A total of 39 English-language studies were included. AI literacy among nursing professionals was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct encompassing eight core dimensions: foundational knowledge, technical cognition, application skill, perceived utility, technology readiness, ethics awareness, critical thinking, and innovation. Most current assessment tools are general-purpose and lack nursing-specific contextualization, although several scales tailored to nursing professionals have been developed recently. Key influencing factors include AI-related education and training, perceived utility, gender, and age. Educational interventions have been shown to be effective in improving AI literacy. AI literacy among nursing professionals constitutes a multidimensional competency framework. Current assessment tools and educational strategies require further optimization. Future efforts should focus on developing highly specialized and culturally adaptable assessment instruments, establishing a stratified and tiered educational system, and rigorously evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions through empirical research to foster the sustainable integration of AI into nursing.