Hospital-Based Robotic Applications in Nursing Practice: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing Informatics
• Robotics in Healthcare
• Clinical Technology Integration

Background:

• Robotic integration in clinical settings necessitates alignment with nursing workflows, patient needs, and clinical contexts.
• Effective technology adoption requires systematic identification and classification of robot applications in hospital nursing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify and classify how robots are utilized in hospital-based nursing practice.
• To support effective technology adoption by classifying robotic functions using standardized nursing terminology.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework.
• A systematic search of five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE) was performed for studies from January 2019 to July 2025.
• Robotic functions were classified into direct care, indirect care, and associated work using standardized nursing terminology and established frameworks.

Main Results:

• Forty studies were included, with 33 focusing on direct care (psychological, physiological, functional support).
• Key direct care interventions included coping and emotional support, infection control, and vital sign monitoring.
• Only one study addressed indirect care, while nine focused on associated work like errands and cleaning.

Conclusions:

• Robots are predominantly used for direct patient care, with limited application in indirect care tasks demanding professional judgment.
• Future robotic development should prioritize user-centered designs and ethical guidelines aligned with clinical needs.
• Robotic technology can enhance nursing efficiency and improve practice environments, especially during workforce shortages or crises.