AI Technology Acceptance, Decent Work Perception, and Job Crafting Among Nurses: A Three‐Wave Cross‐Lagged Study

AIM: To examine how nurses' acceptance of artificial intelligence influences job crafting over time and to explore the longitudinal mediating role of decent work perception in this relationship. BACKGROUND: The integration of artificial intelligence into clinical settings is accelerating, yet its impact on nurses' proactive work behaviors remains underexplored. Understanding the mechanisms through which artificial intelligence acceptance affects job crafting is critical for optimizing workforce adaptation. METHODS: This longitudinal study employed a three-wave cross-lagged panel design. A total of 598 nurses from six tertiary hospitals in China completed surveys on artificial intelligence acceptance, decent work perception, and job crafting over a six-month period. Structural equation modeling and bootstrap analysis were used to test longitudinal mediation. RESULTS: Artificial intelligence acceptance showed declining stability over time, while decent work perception increased, and job crafting stabilized. Cross-lagged analyses revealed that artificial intelligence acceptance positively predicted job crafting both directly and indirectly via enhanced decent work perception. The mediating effect accounted for over one-quarter of the total effect. DISCUSSION: These findings challenge static views of technology adoption, suggesting that artificial intelligence implementation triggers dynamic psychological and behavioral responses among nurses. CONCLUSION: Early acceptance of artificial intelligence technology significantly predicts subsequent job crafting, both directly and through the mediating role of decent work perception. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Enhancing nurses' early acceptance of artificial intelligence and strengthening their perception of decent work may foster more proactive job crafting behaviors. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY: Nurse managers and policymakers should incorporate psychological support and dignity-enhancing strategies into artificial intelligence integration plans. By adopting these approaches, nursing leaders can foster nurses' adaptive behaviors, improve job satisfaction, and ultimately enhance patient care outcomes, thereby promoting long-term workforce sustainability.