16 May 2025 | News
Image Courtesy: Public Domain
ChristianaCare, the first hospital system in the region to deploy collaborative robots, has once again broken new ground, this time with a nationally unique initiative that puts bedside nurses at the helm of robotics research and innovation.
At a graduation ceremony April 30, ChristianaCare celebrated the first four clinical nurses completing the Nursing Research Fellowship in Robotics and Innovation — the first program of its kind in the nation.
The fellowship was part of a three-year, $1.5 million grant from the American Nurses Foundation’s Reimagining Nursing Initiative. The grant supports ChristianaCare’s broader study on how collaborative robots impact nursing practice.
“When you create programs that empower nurses to lead, innovate and tackle meaningful challenges, you see real impact — not just in new skills and knowledge, but in job satisfaction, well-being and retention,” said Susan Smith Birkhoff, Ph.D., RN, program director of Technology Research & Education at ChristianaCare. “This fellowship is built on the belief that when nurses are given the space to learn and lead, they bring fresh ideas and collaborative solutions back to their teams.”
Created and led by Birkhoff, the fellowship is unusual in the U.S. health care landscape: it gives bedside nurses the chance to step away from their daily routines and gain advanced research experience.
Over eight months, nurses from different units and specialties participated in immersive research training and attended guest lectures designed to expand their knowledge, curiosity and professional growth. Their work culminated in national conference presentations and preparations for journal submissions.
Through the fellowship, they developed a deep understanding of how collaborative robots in health care can streamline tasks such as supply delivery and lab runs, giving bedside teams more time and capacity to focus on direct patient care.
While the fellowship directly trained four nurses, its reach extended to more than 400 ChristianaCare nurses. Fellows shared what they were learning along the way, sparking wider interest in research and evidence-based practice across the health system.
“This fellowship has reignited my passion for learning and provided me with the skills and confidence to continue growing,” said Elizabeth Mitchell, BSN, RN-BC, who works in the surgical stepdown unit at Christiana Hospital.
She now plans to pursue her master’s degree in nursing.
“Collaborating with other fellows and mentors has been incredible, and I am excited to apply what I’ve learned to enhance patient care and strengthen our teams.”
The research program was highlighted as a new knowledge and innovation exemplar in the latest evaluation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which in March awarded ChristianaCare its fourth Magnet designation — the gold standard for nursing excellence.
Adriane Griffen, DrPH, MPH, MCHES, vice president of programs at the American Nurses Foundation, praised ChristianaCare’s responsiveness in shaping the program around nurses’ needs and building a model for future innovation.
“What makes this fellowship stand out is its focus on giving bedside nurses a real seat at the table,” Griffen said. “When nurses are trusted to lead and have the right support, they develop solutions that are practical, sustainable and transformative. This fellowship shows how nurse-led innovation can grow from a local pilot into a model for improving care across the country.”
ChristianaCare continues its broader research into robotics integration, with findings from the multi-year collaborative robot study expected to be shared later this year.
The inaugural Nursing Research Fellows in Robotics and Innovation are:
