Perioperative Nursing: Promoting Growth, Viability and Sustainability of a Robotics Program

Every spring, the Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) hosts a conference for surgical nurses. In recent years, AORN talked to Cleveland Clinic’s Mary Szostakowski, MSN, RN, CNOR, perioperative nursing manager of urology and gynecology, to learn more about ensuring a viable robotic surgery program.

Szostakowski oversees robotic procedures at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus for urology, gynecology, ENT, cardiothoracic, general surgery, pediatric surgery and neurosurgery.

She was proud to note that Cleveland Clinic was the first hospital in the world to successfully perform a robotic single-port kidney transplant in fall 2019, which enables all surgical instruments and the donor kidney to be placed through one small abdominal incision.

Here are three ways Szostakowksi suggests that the perioperative team, along with the robotics coordinator, can promote program growth, viability and sustainability. Though written a couple years ago, her advice remains relevant today as demand for robotic surgery continues to grow.

Here are the three ways Szostakowksi suggests a perioperative team can promote program growth, viability and sustainability.

1. Establish effective communication and team work.
2. Facilitate robust education and training.
3. Secure a safe robotic environment.

She notes that organizations need to be innovative in looking and costs and new approaches to provide patients with optimal outcomes and satisfaction.