Perioperative nurses are at the heart of robotic surgery’s rapid rise

Editor's Note

As robotic-assisted surgery continues to expand across specialties, perioperative nurses are driving operational excellence, clinical outcomes, and team coordination—often serving as the linchpin of these high-tech surgical programs. According to an April 16 article from the Cleveland Clinic, the health system’s robotic surgery program illustrates how nurses are essential to both clinical execution and program growth.

In 2024 alone, Cleveland Clinic performed 2,368 robotic surgical procedures, including 60 organ transplants. Single-port robotic platforms—capable of maneuvering multiple instruments through a single 3-cm incision—are being used across urology, gynecology, ENT, plastic surgery, orthopedics, neurology, and transplantation. As noted in the article, these techniques have dramatically improved patient recovery, reducing blood loss, preserving critical anatomical structures, and allowing same-day discharges for procedures like prostatectomies.

Perioperative nurses support every facet of this advancement. They manage equipment logistics, ensure sterility, scrub and circulate during the procedures, and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams. Nurses like Bryant Gaskell, BSN, RN, CNOR, Cleveland Clinic’s surgical robotic coordinator, also provide specialized training, orienting new staff and standardizing robotic workflows. “Each robot is different, so it can be challenging,” Gaskell told the outlet, highlighting the level of detail and technical fluency required.

The importance of the robotics coordinator role is echoed in this article from OR Manager. At Inova Health System, which performs more than 1,300 robotic cases annually, dedicated coordinators oversee everything from instrument inventory and staffing to surgeon training and scheduling efficiency. Clinical Director of Robotics June Hill, BSN, RN, CNOR, emphasized that coordinators must “own” the program—leading training, monitoring block utilization, and continuously updating procedures. Standardization, she explained, is vital for throughput and safety, from tray setups and room layouts to turnover protocols and preference cards.

In both facilities, the importance of robust communication is on display. Cleveland Clinic’s quarterly robotics steering committee meetings and Inova’s daily check-ins and readiness rounds ensure real-time troubleshooting and strategic alignment. Amanda Bailey, a consultant and former robotics coordinator herself, described these interactions as the “glue” that supports operational efficiency and team morale. Ultimately, as robotic platforms become increasingly embedded in OR routines, the clinical and logistical expertise of perioperative nurses is indispensable.