The Impact of Critical Thinking on Career Growth in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: The Mediating Role of AI Awareness

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> Background This study explores the current status of AI awareness among clinical nurses and its impact on professional growth, with a particular focus on the mediating role of critical thinking. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 240 clinical nurses in a tertiary hospital in Changsha, China, using the AI Awareness Scale, the Critical Thinking Assessment Scale, and the Nurse Career Growth Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and mediation analysis via the PROCESS macro with bootstrap sampling were performed. Results Mean scores were as follows: AI awareness (3.68 ± 0.49), critical thinking (4.46 ± 0.49), and career growth (3.74 ± 0.61). AI awareness, critical thinking, and career growth were positively correlated (all P &lt; 0.05). Critical thinking partially mediated the relationship between AI awareness and career growth, accounting for 46.45% of the total effect. Conclusions Clinical nurses’ career growth was at a moderate level. AI awareness positively predicted career growth, with critical thinking playing a partial mediating role. Nursing managers should enhance targeted interventions to strengthen AI literacy and cultivate critical thinking to promote career development.

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