What do nurses experience in communication when assisting in robotic surgery: an integrative literature review

Background

Communication in surgery is integral to the fundamentals of perioperative nursing practice andpatient safety. Research exploring team communication in robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is evident in the literaturebut little attention has been focused on how the experiences of operating room nurses' communication affect safety,practice and patient care outcomes.

Objective

To synthesise current evidence regarding communication during robotic-assisted surgery asexperienced by registered nurses.

Design

An integrative literature review informed by Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) methodology was used toconduct a rigorous analysis and synthesis of evidence.

Methods

A comprehensive database search was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. CINAHL, Pubmed,PsychINFO and British Nursing Web of Science databases were searched using a Boolean strategy.

Results

Twenty-five relevant papers were included in this literature review. Thematic analysis revealed two mainthemes with four related subthemes. The two main themes are: ‘Adaptive operating room nursing in RAS’ and ‘RASalters team dynamics’. The four subthemes are: ‘Navigating disruptions in RAS’, ‘RAS heightens interdependenceon team working’, ‘Augmented communicative workflow in RAS’, and ‘Professional empowerment to speak up’.

Conclusions

This integrative review identifies how current research largely focuses on communication in thewider OR team. However, current evidence lacks the input of nurses. Therefore, further evidence is needed toexplore nurses' experiences to highlight their perspectives.

Clinical Relevance

Robotics significantly benefit patients, and this review identifies different challenges thatrobotic-assisted surgery nurses encounter. A better understanding of the communication from the perspective ofnurses is needed to guide future research, practice education, policy development and leadership/management.