Simulation-based robotic surgery training boosts team confidence, communication

Hands-on, simulation-based education can dramatically raise confidence and communication among perioperative teams learning robotic-assisted surgery, AORN Journal October 22 reports. The article profiles how one nurse leader at Duke University Hospital built a comprehensive robotics training program that helped staff achieve near-total confidence in managing robotic systems safely and effectively.

When Stacy Williams, MSN, RN, CNOR-ROBO, became robotics nursing program manager at Duke, she found no standardized curriculum for OR nurses and technologists working with robotic platforms. To close that gap, she created an internal education program centered on realistic, team-based simulation. The approach, the article reports, enabled learners to master high-risk tasks such as patient positioning, docking, troubleshooting, and emergency undocking in a low-pressure environment that encouraged collaboration and real-time feedback. Post-training surveys showed staff confidence levels approaching 100%.

Participants credited simulation labs for helping them “feel prepared” before entering the live OR. Williams explained that hands-on practice fostered both technical proficiency and communication skills by allowing team members to coordinate responses during simulated failures or urgent scenarios. The article outlines five strategies she recommends for hospitals seeking similar results:

1. Use simulation-based team training to rehearse docking, equipment malfunctions, and emergencies.
2. Standardize checklists and protocols to maintain consistency and reduce errors.
3. Define clear roles for nurses, technologists, and anesthesia professionals to prevent miscommunication, especially with the surgeon positioned at the console.
4. Facilitate interdisciplinary training so the full team practices together as they operate in real cases.
5. Provide continuous education and performance review to adapt to evolving technology and team dynamics.

For onboarding new OR staff, Williams advises structured, service line–specific training within the first few months. This includes a dedicated robotics training day with vendor partners, pairing novices with robotics-trained preceptors during live cases, and integrating role-based checklists early. Her goal, per the outlet, is to build lasting confidence, strengthen communication, and ensure every team member understands their role in patient safety during robotic surgery.