Robotic Surgery Training: 5 Ways to Build Confidence and Communication in the OR

Hands-on training is essential for nurses and surgical technologists working in robotic-assisted procedures.

The technology is complex, room setups are intricate, and perioperative nurses and scrub personnel must be able to independently—and confidently—manage high-risk safety steps such as patient positioning, docking the robot, troubleshooting system errors, and performing an emergency undocking.

When Stacy Williams, MSN, RN, CNOR-ROBO, stepped into the role of Robotics Nursing Program Manager at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC, she faced with a unique education challenge: the lack of a standardized curriculum for training OR staff on robotic systems.

So, she built her own robotic education program with a dedicated focus on the steps she saw as critical for staff to perform with confidence and competence, including rapid responses to emergencies and technical failures. Williams knew simulation-based, hands-on training would be key to helping robotic surgery teams improve setup times, strengthen communication, and enhance patient safety.

Her investment in education has paid off. Post-training survey data show that participants’ confidence has risen to nearly 100%.

Her learners tell her that “practicing docking and troubleshooting scenarios in a low-stress environment such as a simulation lab helped them feel prepared.” They also appreciate the opportunity to ask questions in real time and practice as a team, Williams says, rather than simply watching procedures or relying on online modules.

Strategies to Grow Robotic Surgery Confidence as a Team

Looking to create a program that boosts communication and confidence in the robotic OR?
Williams suggests these five strategies that helped her team succeed:

1. Use Simulation-Based Team Training
   Practice realistic scenarios such as docking scenarios, emergency undocking, and equipment failures. This helps team members gain confidence and improve communication under pressure.
2. Standardize Checklists and Protocols
   Develop checklists for room setup, equipment positioning, and intraoperative workflow to promote consistency, reduce errors, and help staff anticipate next steps.
3. Define Roles and Responsibilities
   Clarify role delineation among the scrub person, circulator, and anesthesia team to prevent miscommunication, especially since the surgeon is at the console and physically removed from the sterile field.
4. Facilitate Interdisciplinary Training
   When surgeons, nurses, anesthesia professionals, and surgical technologists train together as they would practice in a real environment, this improves team familiarity and communication.
5. Provide Continuous Education and Process Review
   Ongoing evaluation of communication, OR times, and team performance ensures that strategies stay relevant and effective. Make adjustments as technology and team dynamics evolve.

Onboarding Tip

Williams recommends structured, service line–specific training pathways that combine simulation and hands-on team learning within the first few months of a nurse’s or surgical technologist’s introduction to robotic surgery.

Here’s how she approaches it:

• Schedule a dedicated “robotics training day” with vendor representatives and experienced staff to practice system setup, docking, and emergency scenarios in a non-clinical environment.
• Pair each new nurse or surgical technologist with a robotics-trained preceptor during live cases to reinforce skills learned in simulation.
• Integrate checklists and role clarity early so communication becomes second nature.

“The goal is to support early confidence-building, strengthen communication, and ensure that every team member understands their individual and collective responsibilities,” Williams said.