Nursing Robots Can Reduce Nursing Workload in General Adult Wards: A Two-Phase Study

Area of Science:

• Robotics in Healthcare
• Nursing Informatics
• Clinical Engineering

Background:

• Global nursing shortages necessitate innovative solutions.
• Nursing robots offer a potential strategy to alleviate workforce pressures.
• Limited empirical data exists on nursing robot capabilities and workload replacement in hospitals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify nursing care tasks manageable by current nursing robots in adult wards.
• To quantify the potential reduction in nursing workload achievable with these robots.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase study combining a scoping review of 10 databases and a cross-sectional survey.
• Identification of nursing robots suitable for general adult hospital wards.
• Measurement of 24-hour nursing workload across 72 wards in six Chinese hospitals.

Main Results:

• 199 studies were reviewed, identifying 26 nursing functions performable by robots.
• Data from 7073 patients indicated 26 nursing robots could substitute for 62.37% of per capita nursing workload.
• Robotic capabilities vary, with some requiring adaptation to clinical demands.

Conclusions:

• Nursing robots show significant promise for general adult wards.
• Strategic development and integration are crucial for maximizing robotic assistance.
• Nursing management requires adaptation, including training and defining new competencies for specialized roles.