Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing healthcare. Yet for these tools to truly benefit care, nurses themselves need to feel ready and confident using them. This study explored how prepared nursing professionals feel about embracing AI in their work using the Medical Artificial Intelligence Readiness Scale for Nurses (MAIRS-N), which looks at four key areas: Cognition, Ability, Vision, and Ethics.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional survey with 384 female participants, mostly registered nurses, nursing students from a nursing college and its linked hospital. The MAIRS-N tool was checked for relevance by experts and showed good reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.88). SPSS was used for data analysis.

Results: On average, participants scored 64.24 out of 110, showing moderate overall readiness. They felt strongest in Ability, followed by Cognition, Ethics, and Vision. Readiness levels varied clearly by professional role across all domains, and the total score, practising nurses and Post Basic B.Sc. students scored highest, while final-year B.Sc. students scored lowest. Older age groups felt more confident in the Ability and Vision domains, but Cognition, Ethics, and total scores showed no strong age link. Marital status made no difference.

Conclusion: Nursing professionals here showed moderate readiness for AI, with practising nurses and more experienced staff feeling noticeably more prepared—especially in hands-on use and outlook. These results underscore the need for practical AI training, curriculum revisions, and clear ethical guidelines, enabling nurses to safely and confidently utilise AI to enhance patient care.

KEYWORDS: AI Readiness, Nursing Professionals, MAIRS-N Scale, Healthcare AI, Cognition, Ability, Vision, Ethics, Indian Nurses.