Robots in Nursing - False Rhetoric or Future Reality?: How might robots contribute to hospital nursing in the future? A qualitative study of the perspectives of roboticists and nurses

Introduction. The challenge of the global nursing shortage coupled with a rising healthcare demand prompts consideration of technology as a potential solution. Technology in the form of robots is being developed for healthcare applications but the potential role in nursing has not been researched in the UK. Methods A three-phased qualitative study was undertaken: interviews with 5 robotic developers (Phase 1); nine focus groups /interviews with 25 hospital Registered Nurses (RN) in Phase 2, and 12 nurse leaders in four focus groups (Phase 3). Data was analysed using framework analysis for Phase 1 and reflexive thematic analysis for Phase 2 and 3 data based on the Fundamentals of Care framework. Results Roboticist interviews confirmed that a taxonomy of potential robotic automation was a useful tool for discussing the role of robots. In Phase 2, RNs described activities that robots might undertake and commented on those which they should not. RNs more readily agreed that robots could assist with physical activities than relational activities. Six potential roles that robots might undertake in future nursing practice were identified from the data and which have been labelled as advanced machine, social companion, responsive runner, helpful co-worker, proxy nurse bot, and feared substitute. Three cross-cutting themes were identified: • a fear of the future; • a negotiated reality and • a positive opportunity. In phase 3, nurse leaders considered the RN results and four themes were identified from their discussions: • First impressions of robot in nursing; • The essence of nursing; • We must do something and • Reframing the future. Conclusions Robots will be a future reality in nursing, playing an assistive role. Nursing must become technically proficient and engage with the development and testing of robots. Nurse leaders must lead policy development and reframe the narrative from substitution to assistance. A number of navigational tools have been developed including a taxonomy of nursing automation and the six robotic roles which may be useful to inform future debate in nursing