After COVID-19, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that while the number of nurses has increased in the past three years, the U. S. still experiences a shortage of registered nurses, and that there will be over one million unfilled nursing jobs. So what's the solution? Robots.
Japan is ahead of the curve when it comes to this trend. Toyohashi University of Technology has developed Terapio, a robotic medical cart that can make hospital rounds, deliver medications and other items, and retrieve records. This type of robot will likely be one of the first to be implemented in hospital.
Robots capable of social engagement help with loneliness as well as cognitive functioning, but the robot itself doesn't have to engage directly — it can serve as a mediator for human communication. Telepresence robots such as MantaroBot, Vgo, and Giraff can be controlled through a computer, smartphone, or tablet, allowing family members or doctors to remotely monitor patients or Skype them. If you can't get to the nursing home to visit grandma, you can use a telepresence robot to hang out with her.
A robot's appearance affects its ability to successfully interact with humans, which is why the Human-Interactive Robot Research decided to develop a robotic nurse that looks like a huge teddy bear. RIBA, also known as "Robear, " can help patients into and out of wheelchairs and beds with its strong arms.
On the less cute and more scary side there is Actroid F, which has such resilient skin and natural hair color that some patients may not know the difference. This conversational robot companion has cameras in its eyes, which allow it to track patients and use appropriate facial expressions and body language in its interactions.
It's important to note that robotic nurses don't decide courses of treatment or make diagnoses. Instead, they perform routine and laborious tasks, freeing nurses up to attend to patients with immediate needs. This is one industry where it seems the integration of robots will lead to cooperation, not replacement.
