Pioneering the Nation's First Nursing Research Fellowship in Robotics and Innovation

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Health Informatics
• Robotics in Healthcare

Background:

• Clinical nurse attrition from bedside roles necessitates innovative professional development.
• Strategies are needed to diversify skills, support well-being, and improve retention.
• The largest health system in Delaware addressed this by creating a Nursing Research Fellowship in Robotics and Innovation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a novel Nursing Research Fellowship in Robotics and Innovation on clinical nurses.
• To assess gains in research competencies, specialty skills, and professional well-being.
• To determine the fellowship's effect on job satisfaction and intent to remain at the bedside.

Main Methods:

• Four bachelor's-prepared nurses participated in an eight-month paid fellowship.
• The program combined didactic instruction with mentored, hands-on research in robotics.
• Longitudinal surveys assessed knowledge, experience, and well-being; fellows co-investigated an IRB-approved robotics study.

Main Results:

• Fellows demonstrated significant gains in research competencies, including AI, robotics, and informatics.
• All participants reported increased job satisfaction, psychological well-being, and professional confidence.
• Scholarly outcomes included conference abstracts, published articles, and manuscript co-authorship.

Conclusions:

• The fellowship successfully integrated research education, innovation, and protected time to enhance nurses' capabilities and fulfillment.
• The program strengthened clinical nurses' research skills and intent to remain at the bedside.
• This fellowship provides a replicable model for advancing nursing workforce well-being through immersive research experiences.