Background: Assessing the current landscape of nurses’ knowledge and attitudes is a critical first step in facilitating a smooth and effective transition toward artificial intelligence (AI)–enhanced critical care. Objective: This study aimed to assess the levels of and factors affecting the knowledge of and general attitudes toward AI in critical care among nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was used with 203 critical care nurses in Hail, Saudi Arabia, using the Nurses’ AI Knowledge Questionnaire and the 20-item General Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence Scale from May 2025 to July 2025. Data were analyzed using 2-tailed t tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multivariable linear regression. Statistical significance was set at P <.05. Results: Critical care nurses demonstrated moderate knowledge of (mean score 4.93, SD 1.78) and positive attitudes toward AI (mean score 64.39, SD 8.26). A moderate positive correlation was found between knowledge of and attitudes toward AI ( r =0.45; P <.001). In multivariable analyses, older age was associated with lower knowledge (≥40 years: β=−1.29, 95% CI −2.12 to −0.45; P =.003) and less positive attitudes (β=−8.97, 95% CI −12.49 to −5.44; P <.001). Female nurses reported lower knowledge (β=−0.69, 95% CI −1.20 to −0.19; P =.007) and less positive attitudes (β=−2.65, 95% CI −4.78 to −0.52; P =.02) than male nurses. Greater experience (>5 years) was positively associated with knowledge (β=1.20, 95% CI 0.65‐1.75; P <.001) and attitudes (β=8.08, 95% CI 5.76‐10.41; P <.001). Conclusions: Critical care nurses in Hail demonstrated moderate knowledge of and positive attitudes toward AI, which varied based on their demographic and professional characteristics. These findings highlight the need to strengthen AI literacy and provide targeted support to groups with lower scores, which may enhance readiness for AI integration in critical care settings.

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare, with benefits such as personalized treatment and efficient diagnosis; however, it also comes with challenges such as data protection and ethical concerns. Aim: This study examined nurse leaders’ perceptions of AI's impact on their professional roles and their level of preparedness for AI integration. Methods: This descriptive correlational study was conducted at various hospitals in Hail City, Saudi Arabia. The Shinners Artificial Intelligence Perception tool was used to evaluate 155 nurse leaders’ perceptions of AI and their readiness for its adoption. Results: The SHAIP tool, previously validated in international studies, was further adapted and validated for this context using confirmatory factor analysis and reliability testing, ensuring robust measurement of nurse leaders’ perceptions and preparedness regarding AI. Nurse leaders showed a positive perception of AI's impact on their roles (mean score = 3.72), but lower perceived preparedness (mean score = 3.32). Education level (where holders of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing showed lower perceptions, with a coefficient of −0.66, p = .006) and department significantly influenced their perceptions of AI. No significant predictors of preparedness for AI were identified. Further, there was no correlation between the perceived AI impact and preparedness. Conclusion: Although nurse leaders recognize AI's potential in healthcare, there is a gap between their perceptions and preparedness. Tailored education and training programs are required to enhance the integration of AI into nursing leadership and practice.

Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience significant emotional, physical, financial, and social challenges that influence their quality of life (QoL). In Saudi Arabia, the impact of caregiving within culturally distinct family structures remain underexplored. To assess the caregivers QoL with ASD in Saudi Arabia and to analyze how demographic factors affect the QoL across the four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March and May 2025 among 302 caregivers recruited from autism centers and online groups. The validated WHOQOL-BREF was used to assess physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25 with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, multiple regression analyses, and Pearson correlation. Caregivers scored lowest in physical health (M = 2.67, 41.8/100), while social relationships scored highest (M = 2.94, 48.5/100). Female caregivers had significantly lower physical QoL than male (p = 0.011; d = 0.36, 95 % CI: 0.12-0.60). Moderate positive correlations were found between physical and psychological health (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). The socioeconomic status and employment positively predicted QoL across domains. Caregivers, particularly women, experience poorer physical and psychological well-being. Findings underscore the need for gender-responsive, family-centered nursing interventions that integrate psychological support and community resources. Pediatric nurses should incorporate caregiver burden screening, psychoeducation, and referral pathways into ASD care plans to enhance overall family health.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) poses a significant challenge in critical care settings, impacting patient outcomes and healthcare costs. In Saudi Arabia, several studies have reported concerns regarding VAP, including variable VAP rates, inconsistent compliance with and knowledge of VAP prevention practices, and inadequate national data. To investigate the intensive and critical care nurses' (ICCNs) self-reported perceived compliance with VAP prevention guidelines, barriers and challenges in caring for mechanically ventilated patients, the demographic variables that associate compliance and factors affecting VAP prevention, and the association between perceived compliance and the barriers affecting the care of mechanically ventilated patients. A descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional design was used. ICCNs (n = 152) were conveniently recruited from two tertiary government-owned hospitals. Data were collected using self-report scales from April to June 2024. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analyses. Findings showed that 43% of ICCNs had high compliance with VAP prevention guidelines. The use of protective gloves at every approach to a patient (96.70%) was the VAP guideline that received the highest perceived compliance among ICCNs. Meanwhile, those with 11 to 15 years of experience were more compliant (p = 0.023) than other groups and demographics. Major barriers to compliance included nursing staffing shortages (94.10%) and limited resources (75.00%). Only ICCNs with 11 to 15 years of experience showed greater awareness of VAP prevention guidelines (p = 0.023). Nurses' nationality, i.e., non-Saudi nurses (p = 0.024) and higher educational levels (p = 0.005), demonstrated greater awareness of barriers to managing and caring for mechanically ventilated patients. ICCNs perceived barriers negatively influenced their perceived compliance with VAP prevention (p = 0.002), indicating that increased barriers are associated with lower compliance. Finally, the considerable challenges in VAP prevention were time constraints and the need for more communication among the health team. Staffing shortages and resource limitations impacted ICCNs' compliance with VAP prevention guidelines. Furthermore, they became less compliant with higher VAP barrier perceptions. Time constraints and team communication were considerable challenges in VAP prevention. As a result, nurse managers could create comprehensive programs like long-term VAP prevention training and interdisciplinary collaboration in the ICU. Healthcare organization administrators should enhance resource allocation and policy formulation to foster compliance. Not applicable.

Critical care nurses (CCNs) frequently encounter ethical dilemmas and institutional constraints that contribute to moral distress, a phenomenon linked to adverse psychological outcomes, such as depression and increased turnover intentions. Despite growing evidence of these relationships, comprehensive studies examining the interplay between the work environment, moral distress, and depression among CCNs in Saudi Arabia remain scarce. This study aimed to assess the mediating role of moral distress on the relationship between the work environment and depression among CCNs. A cross-sectional design was employed, recruiting 230 critical care nurses from four tertiary hospitals in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Validated instruments—the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)—were used to measure the work environment, moral distress, and depression, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and mediation analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS macro. The means of the work environment, moral distress, and depression were 2.67 ± 0.46, 104.24 ± 76.12, and 11.57 ± 5.72, respectively. A significant weak negative correlation was found between the work environment and moral distress (r = − .323, p < .001) and between the work environment and depression (r = − .243, p < .001). Moral distress positively correlated with depression (r = .285, p < .001). Mediation analysis revealed that moral distress (β=-0.075, p = .003) serves as a partial negative mediator between work environment and depression. Nurses with lower educational attainment (diploma/associate degree) or three or more children reported higher levels of depression (p < .05). This study underscores the detrimental impact of a poor work environment on moral distress and depression among CCNs. Moral distress serves as a key mediator amplifying psychological harm. Interventions targeting ethical climate improvement, mental health support, and educational advancement are urgently required to mitigate these effects. These findings advocate for systemic changes to enhance nurses’ well-being and retention, particularly in high-intensity settings, such as critical care units. Future research should employ a longitudinal design to establish causality and evaluate intervention efficacy. Not applicable.