Investigation of operating room nurses' experiences related to robotic surgery in Turkey and their individual innovativeness characteristics

Objective: This study aimed to determine the experiences concerning robotic surgery of the operating room nurses in the institutions that perform robotic surgery, and their individual innovativeness features. Method: This is a descriptive study. In this research written consent, ethics comitee and institutional authorization were obtained. The sample included 115 volunteer operating room nurses, working in 12 robotic surgery performing institutions in Turkey which granted authorization. Data collection was conducted using the Demographic Characteristics of Nurses Form and the Individual Innovativeness Scale and was analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: Operating room nurses hold positive opinions about robotic surgery; 66.1% reported which specialties perform it in Turkey, urology was the most mentioned specialty, 36.5% of the participants qualified nurse's role in the robotic theater as easier/more comfortable. It was found that only 35.8% of the nurses were trained before joining the robotic team, and 55.2% searched for information individually. The difference between individual innovativeness average score of operating room nurses with robotic experience (X=66.45) and the average score of the ones without it (X=61.38) was statistically significant (p <0.001). Over 85% of nurses who received training adapted to robotic surgery within 3 months or less; nurses with higher individual innovativeness scores adapted within a statistically significant (p <0.05) shorter period. Additionally, regarding the experience of working in a robotic surgery theater, training, teamwork and practical experience were mentioned as facilitating factors; inadequate training and technical problems were reported as obstructing factors. Conclusion: According to the resultd of this study, operating room nurses hold a positive opinion about robotic surgery; nurses with robotic surgery experience have higher levels of individual innovativeness and nurses who received training were significantly more adapted.