The field of nursing is far from stagnant, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted just how quickly things can change. Although COVID-related lockdowns may be a thing of the past, many of the healthcare practices implemented during the pandemic remain in place.
Virtual nursing and telehealth are prime examples of this, with about 25 percent of patients in the United States reporting the use of telehealth within the past year. With a greater demand for telehealth and virtual healthcare, it only makes sense that there is a growing need for virtual nurses who can provide quality, compassionate care remotely.
So, what exactly is virtual nursing and what does this line of work entail? With a better understanding of this field and its nuances, as well as how it is changing the entire scope of nursing, you can determine whether this line of work may be right for you.
What Is Virtual Nursing?
Virtual nursing refers to a healthcare practice where nursing care is provided remotely, including consultations that occur over the phone and live video chats. With virtual care provided by nurses, patients can receive the care they need without having to set foot inside a doctor’s office or urgent care clinic.
Virtual nursing has many practical applications, ranging from the diagnosis of rashes and other ailments to ongoing care and treatment of chronic conditions.
The Technological Foundation of Virtual Nursing
Believe it or not, the first telemedicine technology was used as far back as the 1960s when NASA built health monitoring sensors into the spacesuits of astronauts so their vitals could be tracked during space travel.
Of course, the field of telehealth and virtual nursing has come a long way since then. Today, a wide range of technologies are used to provide virtual care to patients, including computers and mobile devices. Likewise, virtual monitoring devices (such as heart monitors and pulse oximeters) can deliver vitals to nurses and other healthcare providers remotely. Some companies are even beginning to develop virtual medical scopes, including stethoscopes, which allow physicians to listen to a patient’s heart and lungs in real time.
How Virtual Nursing Is Improving Patient Care
In many ways, virtual nursing is making healthcare more accessible and convenient for patients. By consulting with a nurse via telehealth appointment, patients can save themselves the hassle of commuting to a physician’s office to receive care. Telehealth visits can make scheduling appointments easier, especially around busy work schedules. Meanwhile, being able to see a nurse remotely protects patients (especially immunocompromised patients) from the risk of illness or virus transmission in a doctor’s office waiting room.
This added convenience makes it more likely for patients to seek care when they need it rather than delaying care until symptoms worsen, which may improve health outcomes for patients.
How Virtual Nursing Supports New Nurses on the Floor
In recent years (especially during the pandemic), virtual nurses have provided much-needed support to bedside nurses. This is especially true for new nurses on the floor, who were essentially thrown into the chaos of the pandemic and needed some guidance from more seasoned nurses.
Today, virtual nurses continue to provide support and leadership to bedside nurses while taking on administrative duties that free up valuable time and resources for new nurses on the floor.
Solving Workforce Woes With Virtual Nursing
Virtual nursing is also one potential solution to the ongoing shortage of bedside and discharge nurses. Hospitals and other medical facilities can essentially hire virtual nurses on a contract basis, bringing them in as needed to fill gaps in staffing and scheduling, helping alleviate stress and cut down on the workload of bedside nurses while ensuring patients continue to receive quality care.
Steps to Success in Virtual Nursing
If you are interested in exploring telemedicine jobs for nurses, it is important to understand that virtual nurses must meet all the same academic and training requirements for registered nurses, including passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) at the RN level. Some employers may also look for nurses with training or experience in providing virtual care.
One of the most important things to keep in mind for those embarking on careers in virtual nursing is that the field is incredibly dynamic. With new technologies developed and revealed at a dizzying pace, virtual nurses must be prepared to adapt to new healthcare technologies and innovations as they arise to provide the highest level of patient care. For most virtual nurses, this will require a lifelong commitment to learning and growth.
Exploring Patient-Centered Care in Virtual Nursing
Virtual nursing can help alleviate staffing and workforce concerns for healthcare facilities. However, it is important to keep the focus on how virtual care can provide patient-centered care in a remote setting, including consideration of how virtual nursing can enhance the patient experience while optimizing the quality of care.
Enhancing Patient Experience With Virtual Nursing
There are many ways in which virtual nursing can improve the patient experience, especially when it comes to making appointment scheduling easier and more convenient. Virtual nursing may also be more cost-effective for patients and providers while allowing for more seamless communication between patients and healthcare providers.
Virtual nursing is also being used to treat patients with mental health concerns, making it easier for those struggling with their mental health to get the compassionate care they need without needing to leave the house.
The Role of Virtual Nursing in Providing Quality Care
As telehealth and virtual medicine expand, the expertise of virtual nurses becomes increasingly vital in delivering high-quality care to patients, even at a distance. Proficient in telehealth technology, these nurses are well-equipped to utilize the latest innovations for monitoring vital signs through wearable medical devices and managing specialized equipment. As virtual nursing is used more frequently, the quality and competencies of virtual nurses improve, which in return provides better care to patients from a distance.
Is Virtual Nursing the Future of Quality Healthcare?
A virtual nurse plays a critical role in providing quality healthcare, even when it is not possible (or practical) to be physically present at a patient’s bedside. Today, virtual healthcare technology makes it possible for nurses to handle everything from monitoring a patient’s vitals to providing treatment recommendations.
If you are interested in working as a virtual nurse while providing the best patient care, then the right education and training can help you gain the foundational knowledge that is so important in this field. If you are ready to pursue your BSN, Post University’s Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences may be right for you.
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