Virtual nursing involves delivering care remotely, whether that is through a screen in the patient's room, working from home to deal with the administrative side of a nurse's job, or offering advice to less experienced nurses. Many of these methods are not new; tools like telehealth have been around for a while, and trainee nurses can contact their supervisors for advice when they need it. The emerging difference is the method of delivery, which is ever-improving and making it easier for nurses to get the job done efficiently in a manner that works for them.
The Rise in Virtual Nursing
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of nursing had to be done remotely, and providers scrambled to improve their telehealth systems and virtual delivery methods and, most importantly, keep their patients and nurses safe.
During and post-pandemic, healthcare providers expanded their infrastructure to suit remote nursing and fix the gaps exposed by a rapid transition to remote technology, in turn pushing providers to innovate and expand digital platforms. These advancements have continued to evolve, with many healthcare facilities investing in long-term virtual solutions.
As this expansion continues, providers must ensure that evidence-based practice is used in virtual nursing systems that work. Remote monitoring, virtual consultations, and tele-triage are examples of practices that work in action and have become everyday tools that can and are being used to care for patients and improve outcomes even in non-crisis times.
Building a Foundation for Evidence-Based Virtual Nursing
For virtual nursing to succeed, it is crucial to build a foundation based on research into what works and what nurses want. Qualitative surveys like the 2022 American Nurses Foundation survey highlight several key concerns among nurses.
According to the survey, 63% of respondents are calling for better staffing levels, while many also seek increased compensation and healthier workplace environments. 81% of nurses report feeling burned out, and 43% are considering leaving their current positions within the next six months due to stress and lack of support. At the same time, nurses are advocating for measures against workplace bullying and improved access to mental health resources, with 58% experiencing mental health challenges since the pandemic.
Virtual Nursing in Practice: Key Benefits
You may wonder how much work a nurse can do remotely. After all, don't they have to give out pills or put needles in arms? Of course, this is true, but there are three key areas where virtual nurses can make a massive impact on the overall workload.
1. Administration
You may—or may not, be surprised to hear that nurses are not immune from paperwork. In fact, one study found nurses spend 25% of their time on documentation—although many put it higher. Regardless, that's two hours or more per day a nurse spends on administrative tasks—many of which can be handled remotely from the comfort of their own home. Having some nurses work remotely and take care of a range of administrative tasks to alleviate the workload of others could greatly help to improve the working environment, hours, and even burnout. At the same time, a mixed model where nurses work remotely handling paperwork a few days a week could be appealing to many.
2. Expert Advice
Nurses make up one in five healthcare workers and specialize in many different areas with different skills and levels of experience. However, new nurses often struggle to adjust to the demands of their roles, making their support critically needed. There have been reports of as many as 33% of nurses leaving their jobs in the first two years, often because they do not have enough support from senior nurses who are stretched thin.
Reports have also raised concerns about the increasing stress and burnout among nurses, particularly due to staffing shortages and heavy workloads. Virtual nursing means senior nurses can offer advice from a screen in the same room, guiding less experienced nurses through complex procedures without having to run around the hospital.
This offers a promising solution by providing guidance and support to less experienced nurses, allowing them to focus on patient care without feeling overwhelmed, which could significantly improve retention and job satisfaction in the field. This improved dynamic and level of support—especially for new nurses could not come soon enough.
3. Personalized Care
When nurses take appointments remotely, patients are no longer reliant on who is working in that hospital on a Monday. They have a far greater choice of nurses to choose from, those who speak the same language as the patient and specialize in their demographic or particular ailment.
At the same time, nurses can work with patients based on how they have specialized or simply who they prefer to work with. This allows for improved patient-nurse dynamics and personalized care for all.
The Real Difference
As the American Nurses Federation survey highlighted, nurses have been struggling with a lack of support and large workloads. Virtual nursing can alleviate these issues by allowing nurses to handle administrative tasks remotely, cutting down on paperwork that often takes up 25% of their day. This flexibility helps reduce burnout and creates a more supportive work environment. Additionally, senior nurses can provide real-time advice to less experienced colleagues through virtual platforms, ensuring they feel supported and can deliver better patient care. This system is crucial for retaining new nurses and improving overall job satisfaction.
Challenges and the Future of Virtual Nursing
Healthcare is constantly adapting to keep up with the times, and virtual nursing exemplifies a shift toward more efficient and digital models. However, challenges remain, like ensuring all nurses are trained in new technologies and establishing robust infrastructure for digital platforms.
Despite the challenges, the future of virtual nursing is bright. Advanced technology can offer personalized, accessible care to patients anywhere, improving outcomes and reducing hospital readmissions. By addressing these challenges and investing in necessary infrastructure, virtual nursing can become a cornerstone of modern healthcare, enhancing both patient care and nurse satisfaction.
Overall, virtual nursing has shown us just how valuable it can be in a crisis. And like many tools developed in crisis, it can easily be adapted and improved upon once the dust has settled so that the next time a pandemic—or natural disaster, or who knows what else hits, it can be used just as well as it is every other day.
