ChristianaCare celebrates first graduates of Robotics Nursing Fellowship

ChristianaCare has become the first health system in the country to offer a robotics-focused research fellowship led by bedside nurses, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at integrating advanced technology into clinical practice.

On April 30, the health system honored the first four nurses to complete the Nursing Research Fellowship in Robotics and Innovation, a program developed under a $1.5 million grant from the American Nurses Foundation’s Reimagining Nursing Initiative. The fellowship is part of ChristianaCare’s broader three-year study examining the role of collaborative robots in nursing.

Over an eight-month period, nurses from a range of specialties received intensive training in research methodology. Their work culminated in presentations at national conferences and efforts toward academic journal submissions.

The inaugural fellows were Briana Abernathy, Elizabeth Mitchell, Hannah Rackie, and Morgan Tallo — all practicing nurses at ChristianaCare facilities. Their projects explored how robotics could support clinical workflows and reduce strain on nursing staff.

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“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, who created and led the fellowship as ChristianaCare’s program director of Technology Research & Education.

The fellowship allowed participants to step away from daily clinical duties and engage in hands-on research. While only four nurses were directly involved, they shared their learning with colleagues across the health system, encouraging broader engagement with research and innovation.

The initiative has already gained national recognition. It was highlighted as a model of innovation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center during its evaluation of ChristianaCare, which recently earned its fourth Magnet designation. 

“What makes this fellowship stand out is its focus on giving bedside nurses a real seat at the table,” said Adriane Griffen, DrPH, MPH, MCHES, vice president of programs at the American Nurses Foundation.

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“When nurses are trusted to lead and have the right support, they develop solutions that are practical, sustainable and transformative,” she said. “This fellowship shows how nurse-led innovation can grow from a local pilot into a model for improving care across the country.”

Danielle Weber, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, ChristianaCare’s chief nurse executive, said the program reflects the system’s broader commitment to nurse-driven innovation.

“Innovation is about improving care, easing the burdens on our teams and finding smarter ways to meet the complex needs of our patients,” Weber said. “Tools like collaborative robots don’t replace the human touch, they help protect and elevate it.”

ChristianaCare plans to continue its robotics research, with results from the ongoing multi-year study expected later this year.