Research Article
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Artificial Intelligence is like…: Nursing Students' Perceptions Through Textual and Visual Metaphors

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 309 - 326

Ayşe Çiçek Korkmaz , Serap Altuntaş

https://doi.org/10.38088/jise.1665195

Abstract

The rapid advancement of technology has positioned artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative force in nursing education and clinical practice. Nursing students' perceptions of AI are critical to its meaningful integration into their learning experiences and future professional roles. This study explored these perceptions through textual and visual metaphors. Conducted in 2023 with 270 nursing students, the study involved collecting AI-related metaphors and corresponding illustrations. Using metaphor analysis, the data were categorized into three overarching themes: positive, negative, and dual-impact metaphors. Positive metaphors reflected AI’s human-like abilities, controllability, technological advancement, accessibility to information, facilitation of learning, and undiscovered potential. Negative metaphors emphasized concerns such as loss of control, lack of emotion, dependency, and diminished human effort. Dual-impact metaphors captured both the advantages and potential risks of AI. The metaphor “robot” emerged as the most frequently used, emphasizing students’ perception of AI as a functional and efficient assistant. The findings revealed a clear progression in perceptions across grade levels. First-year students tended to express simpler and more concrete views, while senior students demonstrated more critical, multidimensional, and abstract perspectives. Such a developmental trajectory suggests that academic progression fosters deeper reflection and critical awareness regarding AI. Higher-grade students were more likely to highlight ethical, emotional, and professional implications of AI use in nursing. This study highlights that nursing students develop a balanced awareness of AI, acknowledging both its benefits and challenges. These insights underline the importance of tailoring AI-related content in nursing education to different academic levels. Understanding these perceptions can guide the integration of AI into nursing education, ensuring that students are prepared to engage with AI in a thoughtful and informed manner.

Keywords

Artificial intelligence Metaphor Nursing education Nursing student Perception Qualitative research

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University of Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee for Health Sciences (Decision no: 2022-151-02, date: October 18, 2022)

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of the University of Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University under the project number BAP-23-1004-005.

Thanks

We would like to thank all the students who contributed to this study and the University Scientific Research Projects (BAP) Coordination Unit for their support in conducting this research.

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There are 50 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Intelligent Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Ayşe Çiçek Korkmaz 0000-0001-8184-1490

Serap Altuntaş 0000-0002-7695-7736

Early Pub Date November 13, 2025
Publication Date November 15, 2025
Submission Date March 25, 2025
Acceptance Date September 16, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 9 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Çiçek Korkmaz, A., & Altuntaş, S. (2025). Artificial Intelligence is like…: Nursing Students’ Perceptions Through Textual and Visual Metaphors. Journal of Innovative Science and Engineering, 9(2), 309-326. https://doi.org/10.38088/jise.1665195
AMA Çiçek Korkmaz A, Altuntaş S. Artificial Intelligence is like…: Nursing Students’ Perceptions Through Textual and Visual Metaphors. JISE. November 2025;9(2):309-326. doi:10.38088/jise.1665195
Chicago Çiçek Korkmaz, Ayşe, and Serap Altuntaş. “Artificial Intelligence Is Like…: Nursing Students’ Perceptions Through Textual and Visual Metaphors”. Journal of Innovative Science and Engineering 9, no. 2 (November 2025): 309-26. https://doi.org/10.38088/jise.1665195.
EndNote Çiçek Korkmaz A, Altuntaş S (November 1, 2025) Artificial Intelligence is like…: Nursing Students’ Perceptions Through Textual and Visual Metaphors. Journal of Innovative Science and Engineering 9 2 309–326.
IEEE A. Çiçek Korkmaz and S. Altuntaş, “Artificial Intelligence is like…: Nursing Students’ Perceptions Through Textual and Visual Metaphors”, JISE, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 309–326, 2025, doi: 10.38088/jise.1665195.
ISNAD Çiçek Korkmaz, Ayşe - Altuntaş, Serap. “Artificial Intelligence Is Like…: Nursing Students’ Perceptions Through Textual and Visual Metaphors”. Journal of Innovative Science and Engineering 9/2 (November2025), 309-326. https://doi.org/10.38088/jise.1665195.
JAMA Çiçek Korkmaz A, Altuntaş S. Artificial Intelligence is like…: Nursing Students’ Perceptions Through Textual and Visual Metaphors. JISE. 2025;9:309–326.
MLA Çiçek Korkmaz, Ayşe and Serap Altuntaş. “Artificial Intelligence Is Like…: Nursing Students’ Perceptions Through Textual and Visual Metaphors”. Journal of Innovative Science and Engineering, vol. 9, no. 2, 2025, pp. 309-26, doi:10.38088/jise.1665195.
Vancouver Çiçek Korkmaz A, Altuntaş S. Artificial Intelligence is like…: Nursing Students’ Perceptions Through Textual and Visual Metaphors. JISE. 2025;9(2):309-26.
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