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 larger 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.
Over eight months, nurses from different units and specialties participated in immersive research training and lectures designed to expand their knowledge, curiosity and professional growth. Their work culminated in national conference presentations and preparations for journal submissions.
The inaugural Nursing Research Fellows in Robotics and Innovation are:
Briana Abernathy, BSN, RN, CEN – case management, Christiana Hospital emergency department
Elizabeth Mitchell, BSN, RN-BC – Christiana Hospital surgical stepdown unit
Hannah Rackie, BSN, RN, C-EFM – Union Hospital maternity unit
Morgan Tallo, BSN, RN, CCRN – Christiana Hospital cardiovascular critical care unit
A ‘real seat at the table’
“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 clinical practice areas.”
Created and led by Smith Birkhoff, the fellowship is a standout 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, an opportunity rarely available at the clinical level.
While the fellowship directly trained four nurses, its reach extended well beyond thazt. Fellows shared what they were learning along the way, sparking wider interest in research across the health system.
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.”
Through the fellowship, nurses gained a deeper understanding of applying research methodology to advance robotics science at the intersection of nursing and hospital operations, which is groundbreaking and novel.
“This is such an exciting and important moment for our profession,” said Danielle Weber, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, chief nurse executive at ChristianaCare. “Innovation is about improving care, easing the burdens on our teams and finding smarter ways to meet the complex needs of our patients. Tools like collaborative robots don’t replace the human touch, they help protect and elevate it.”
Mitchell said she was initially intimidated when she saw the fellowship application because it had been years since she last engaged in formal research. Learning everything from literature reviews to abstract writing pushed her outside her comfort zone and gave her practical tools to take new ideas forward. The experience inspired her to return to school this fall to pursue a graduate degree.
A ‘ripple effect’
“This fellowship reignited my enthusiasm for learning and gave me the skills and confidence to keep growing,” Mitchell said. “It’s been amazing to collaborate with other fellows and mentors, and I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned to improve patient care and strengthen our teams.”
In addition to Smith Birkhoff, Kate Shady, Ph.D., RN, OCN, RN IV, served as a mentor to the fellows, bringing expertise from her hematology/oncology background. Kati Patel, MPH, provided key administrative coordination and support throughout the program.
ChristianaCare continues its broader research into robotics integration, with findings from the multi-year collaborative robot study expected to be shared later this year.
Shady said the fellowship is already influencing ChristianaCare’s nursing culture by expanding interest in research and evidence-based practice well beyond the initial group. The program’s ripple effect is helping build lasting infrastructure for nurse-led innovation across departments.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this fellowship has been seeing these nurses step into new confidence and capability,” Shady said. “They began unsure about research, but by the end, they were reading studies, writing abstracts and mentoring peers — laying the groundwork for bigger change in how we advance nursing practice.”
Learn more about nursing at ChristianaCare.
