The use of robots and other automated devices in nurses' work: An integrative review

Abstract

Background: Future nursing shortages and advanced technological developments mean that robots and automated devices could play a valuable role in nursing, but little has been published on their use, and outcomes, to date.

Aim: This integrative review identified how robots are currently used in nursing and the outcomes of those initiatives.

Design: This study used integrative review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Data sources: We searched the CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for peer-reviewed papers published in English from January 2010 to August 2018.

Review methods: The five-stage review process by Whittemore and Knafl was used.

Results: The 25 included papers showed that robots and automated devices were mainly used in nursing to deliver medication, monitor patients, and provide nursing treatments. The outcomes were evaluated in relation to patient safety, working time and workload, usability, and the end users' satisfaction. In addition, the costs, care outcomes, nurses' behaviour, and changes in working procedures were considered.

Conclusions: Robots and automated devices have the potential to develop nurses' work, but more research and critical evaluations are needed to find the most suitable devices and focus on the functions that will provide the best outcomes for nurses' work.

Keywords: automated devices; integrative review; nurses; outcomes; robots; workloads.