Use of the expert system as a tool for clinical decision support for students and practitioners of nursing is a subject of much discussion and developmental activity. A prototype of a nursing expert system was designed for use in a simulated laboratory environment to provide nursing students with decision support in identifying and managing common postoperative complications. Formative evaluation of the system with associate and baccalaureate nursing students elicited positive response and formed the basis for ongoing program refinement. The practicing nurse of the future must understand expert system use in order to consider the implications and potential of such a clinical tool in nursing practice.