Nursing and Exoskeleton Technology – Nursing Education Network

This review considers reducing the physical demands on the nursing occupation through progressive technologies akin to exoskeletons. Repetitive and strenuous nursing tasks, combined with long shifts and fatigue, place the nurse within the high-risk category attributable to the danger of work-related injuries. Never mind the added risk of verbal and physical harm from incidents of workplace violence. There are each advantages and challenges to be faced when using exoskeletons in healthcare settings.

Journal Club article: Vallée, A. (2024). Exoskeleton technology in nursing practice: an assessment of effectiveness, usability and impact on the standard of skilled lifetime of nurses, a narrative review. BMC Nursing, 23(1), 156.

“The review focuses on reducing physical stress and fatigue, improving posture and body mechanics, improved patient care, usability and acceptability aspects and the broader impact on working life.” The review focuses on reducing physical stress and fatigue, improving posture and body mechanics, improved patient care, usability and acceptability aspects and the broader impact on working life.”

Vallée, 2024

Advantages:

• Reduce your physical load
• Improve posture and body mechanics
• Reduce physical fatigue
• Improve patient care
• Increase job satisfaction

Challenges:

• Usability and acceptability
• Comfort and fit
• Ease of use and integration (? history of healthcare and technology integration)
• User experience and training
• Feedback and iterative design
• Cost and availability
• Durability and maintenance (in a clinical setting we will break anything unless it’s evidence of complete destruction).
• Ethical considerations
• One other opportunity to create more policies and guidelines for practice change.