Balancing Profit and Patient‐Centredness: Nurses' Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Healthcare Businesses

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded in healthcare businesses, promoted for its ability to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and optimize workflows. However, the intersection of profit-driven priorities with patient-centred values presents significant ethical and professional challenges for nurses, who serve as the frontline mediators between technology and patients. AIM: This study aimed to explore nurses lived experiences of AI integration in healthcare businesses, focusing on how they navigate tensions between institutional efficiency and their professional commitment to patient-centred care. METHODS: An interpretive phenomenological design was employed to capture the depth of nurses' perspectives. Data were collected between May and June 2025 through 26 semi-structured interviews and 1 focus group with 7 nurses, yielding a total of 33 participants from AI-integrated private hospitals. Transcripts were analyzed thematically, with trustworthiness ensured through member validation, audit trails and reflexive journaling. RESULTS: Four overarching themes emerged. Nurses reported emotional and ethical conflicts when AI recommendations contradicted clinical judgement, often leading to moral distress. Business imperatives were perceived to prioritize efficiency over individualized care, with nurses excluded from decision-making about AI adoption. Many participants expressed anxiety over role displacement and a diminishing sense of autonomy, although some redefined their professional identity as technology navigators. Inadequate training and lack of institutional support further amplified challenges, leaving nurses underprepared to manage AI tools effectively. CONCLUSION: While AI offers organizational advantages, its integration without inclusive planning and adequate training risks undermining holistic nursing practice. Strengthening institutional support, valuing nurses' input and balancing efficiency with empathy are essential to align technological innovation with compassionate, patient-centred care.

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