The role of artificial intelligence literacy and innovation mindset in shaping nursing students' career and talent self-efficacy

As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms nursing education, AI literacy is becoming a critical necessity for increasing the career potential and talent of nursing students. Additionally, fostering an innovation mindset promotes adaptability, creativity and openness to new approaches, further boosting students' confidence in their careers. However, few studies have examined the impact of these competencies on nursing students' career and talent self-efficacy, underscoring the need for further investigation. To examine the moderating effect of AI literacy on the associations between an innovation mindset and nursing students’ career and talent self-efficacy. Cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 596 nursing students who were enrolled in the College of Nursing at Alexandria University, Egypt. Three scales, namely, innovative thinking competencies, assessment of nonexperts’ AI literacy and career and talent development self-efficacy, were used. Data were collected during the academic year 2023–2024. Hypotheses were tested via correlation and regression analyses. This study revealed that nursing students had moderate levels of AI literacy, innovation mindset and career and talent self-efficacy. Nursing students' career and talent self-efficacy were significantly predicted by their innovative mindset and AI literacy. AI literacy significantly moderates the relationship between nursing students' innovation mindset and their career and talent self-efficacy, making it more positive. This study highlighted that fostering awareness with AI-driven tools could cultivate innovative thinking among nursing students and augment confidence in their talents. This study underscores that encouraging nursing talent and career aspirations requires the integration of AI literacy and innovative thinking as core competencies in nursing curricula. •Nursing students showed moderate levels of AI literacy, innovation mindset, and career and talent self-efficacy.•AI literacy and innovation mindset strongly predict nursing students' career and talent self-efficacy.•AI literacy positively moderates the relationship between nursing students’ innovation mindset and talent self-efficacy.•Promoting AI literacy and innovation mindset is essential for nursing students' career success.