The Pros and Cons of Using AI in Nursing School (What Students Really Think)

April 8, 2025

Emily Chang

The Pros and Cons of Using AI in Nursing School (What Students Really Think)

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere in 2025—including the classrooms, clinicals, and study sessions of today’s nursing students. From personalized tutoring to NCLEX-style questions on demand, AI is transforming how future nurses learn. But is it all good? We asked students, professors, and nurse educators what they really think. Here's a balanced breakdown of the biggest pros and cons of using AI in nursing school—and how tools like GoodNurse are addressing real concerns.

The Pros of AI in Nursing School

1. Instant Answers 24/7

Nursing students don’t have time to wait. Whether it’s 2 a.m. before a clinical or a 10-minute study break between classes, AI provides on-demand answers to complex questions.

  • “I use it like a study buddy. I can ask about lab values or cardiac meds and get an answer right away.” – Maya R., BSN student

2. Personalized Study Support

AI adapts to each student’s learning pace and knowledge gaps. Whether you struggle with med math or care plans, AI nursing tools identify your weak spots and help you improve faster, making study sessions more efficient.

3. NCLEX Prep That Feels Like the Real Thing

Modern AI tools simulate the Next Gen NCLEX, offering:

  • Case study questions
  • Prioritization and delegation practice
  • Adaptive exams with detailed rationales

This realistic prep helps students master clinical judgment, a key focus of the NCLEX in 2025.

4. Accessibility & Convenience

Students can upload screenshots, clinical notes, or care plans and get AI-generated breakdowns. Many tools also offer support in multiple languages, helping ESL students stay on track and making AI nursing education more inclusive.

5. Confidence Booster

AI gives students a safe space to test their knowledge, make mistakes, and learn from detailed feedback—improving both confidence and clinical reasoning skills essential for nursing school and practice.


The Cons of AI in Nursing School

1. Is It Medically Accurate?

Accuracy is the biggest concern among students and faculty. Many general-purpose AI tools (like ChatGPT or Google Bard) aren’t built for healthcare and can generate:

  • Inaccurate medical information
  • Outdated drug recommendations
  • Misleading rationales

This makes choosing a nursing-specific AI critical for reliable study support.

2. Risk of Overreliance

Some students worry they might lean too heavily on AI instead of building their own critical thinking skills.

  • “I have to remind myself to still look things up in my textbook, or double-check with my instructor.” – Jordan C., ADN student

3. Ethical Gray Areas

AI can help you understand concepts, but it shouldn’t complete assignments for you. Nursing schools are emphasizing ethical AI usage in their policies—and responsible platforms are reinforcing this approach.


How GoodNurse Is Different

At GoodNurse, we’ve built our AI specifically for nursing students—not for general use. Here’s what sets us apart:

  • Developed with input from nurses, NPs, doctors, professors, and nursing schools
  • Fact-checked by a dedicated team of nurse educators and medical professionals
  • Constantly monitored and refined based on user feedback and curriculum updates
  • Built around NCLEX prep, nursing education, clinical reasoning, and coursework—not generic AI models

When a student uploads a care plan or asks a medication question, they get answers that are relevant, up-to-date, and accurate—not just algorithmic guesses. This focus makes GoodNurse a trusted choice for AI nursing school tools.


What Nursing Students Are Saying

“I used ChatGPT before and it would sometimes give me fake meds or totally wrong patho info. GoodNurse feels like it actually understands nursing.”
Stephanie D., RN Student

“GoodNurse doesn’t just give you answers—it gives you reasons. I’ve learned more from reviewing rationales than anything else.”
Anthony L., LPN-to-RN Student


Final Thoughts: Should You Use AI in Nursing School?

The short answer: yes—but use it wisely. AI is an incredible tool for nursing students, offering personalized, instant support for everything from exams to care plans. But it should be used with a learning mindset, not as a shortcut. When paired with traditional methods like textbooks, clinicals, and instructor feedback, AI nursing tools can supercharge your study process and help you feel more confident in class—and in practice.


Try the AI Built for Nursing

Want to experience the difference? Try GoodNurse for free and see why thousands of students and educators are using it to prep for clinicals, crush exams, and get ready for the NCLEX.