AI Image-Generation as a Teaching Strategy in Nursing Education

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) allows for the transformation of written text into artistic images of varying styles. Scholars and researchers are beginning to explore the benefits of this technology to improve reflective practices and critical analyses in education. The extent to which AI-generated images can be used in nursing education (e.g., to explore cultural stereotypes or visual representations of the nursing profession) has not yet been studied. This article describes a case study of using generative-AI images created by "Midjourney" with undergraduate nursing students to examine their perceptions and fears of the nursing profession. The research explored how students experienced the process of using AIgenerated art as a teaching and learning tool to increase their reflections and discussions on professional nursing topics. Images were used to encourage introspection, collaborative reflection, and discussion on nursing topics. Results of this qualitative, exploratory study point to pedagogical and technological outcomes of using AI image-generation as a strategy to encourage reflection and discussion on student's perceptions and fears of the nursing profession. Implications for research and practice are discussed.