The age of telehealth began when nurses started contacting patients over the phone to provide them with information about their symptoms, offer advice about home treatment and follow up after procedures.
However, in recent years, the rapid growth of telehealth and the rise of virtual nursing has had a transformative impact on healthcare delivery. While nursing telehealth technology allows nurses to improve communication with their patients and bridge the health equity gap, it also presents unique challenges, many of which are related to patient privacy and security.
In this evolving landscape, nurses will need to develop advanced technological skills and adopt nursing telehealth strategies to best serve their patients in this ever-changing landscape. With the demand for virtual nursing services rising steadily, now is the best time for nurses to consider improving their skill set and prioritizing their education.
What Is Telehealth Nursing? The New Frontier of Patient Care
So, what is telehealth nursing, exactly? The American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing defines telehealth nursing as the practice of using technology to provide patients with remote healthcare services. While telehealth in nursing was once considered a supplemental practice, today, it is taking center stage as more patients have come to trust and rely on virtual healthcare services.
Telehealth has been around for decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new era for virtual nursing. During the peak of the pandemic, most patients were relying on telehealth services for routine healthcare, while patients suffering from signs and symptoms of the novel virus were prioritized within the healthcare system. As a result, technology rapidly changed and developed to accommodate the new demand for virtual healthcare services, and even as the pandemic receded, many patients preferred this comfortable and convenient option.
The HIPAA Journal notes that these are the most common types of telehealth services:
- Real-Time Telehealth — Real-time telehealth in nursing occurs whenever a nurse uses technology to communicate with a patient. It is important to prioritize privacy when it comes to real-time telehealth, and most real-time telehealth services involve evaluations, check-ups and symptom or medical history reviews. Phone calls and video conferences are two of the most common types of real-time telehealth, and these services help nurses improve both communication and patient outcomes.
- Remote Patient Monitoring — Rather than having patients book in-person follow-up appointments, telehealth enables remote patient monitoring, in which a nurse can follow up with a patient regarding their treatment plan and outcomes. It is considered to be one of the most significant advances in telehealth technology, as it has helped alleviate the burden on the healthcare system and made it easier for patients to maintain their treatment plan.
- Store-and-Forward — Defined as the process of storing patient information and communicating with patients on a digital platform, store-and-forward is one of the primary uses of telehealth in nursing today. Store-and-forward streamlines the process of providing patients with relevant information, test results, documents, images and more, and it also enables provider collaboration.
- Medical Imaging — In the event that medical images are required, medical imaging telehealth services allow healthcare providers to upload medical images and collaborate about the results. Again, this virtual healthcare service streamlines the process of caring for patients and providing them with a treatment plan.
- Health Education — Nurses and other healthcare providers can leverage telehealth technology to create engaging and interactive health education courses. Webinars and virtual conferences about relevant topics can help improve access and aid in community health efforts.
Key Responsibilities of a Telehealth Nurse
Due to the rise of telehealth services, there are niche positions available for telehealth nurses who specialize in providing remote healthcare services. According to NurseJournal.org, some of the key responsibilities of a telehealth nurse include:
- Offering virtual visits in which nurses assess and triage patients.
- Offering chat-based interactions for patients.
- Monitoring patients remotely and checking in with patients on a regular basis.
- Remote medication management.
- Development of health education programs.
- Providing technical support for patients relying on telehealth platforms.
- Collaborating remotely with other healthcare providers.
- Documenting remote patient interactions.
Essential Skills for the Virtual Nurse: Bridging the Distance
When asking the question of “what is telehealth nursing?” virtual nursing requires nurses to develop both practical skills as well as digital and interpersonal skills to succeed in this growing field.
These are the essential skills required if you are interested in becoming a telehealth nurse:
Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Given the fact that you will be relying heavily on technology to interact with your patients, it’s incredibly important that you develop strong communication and interpersonal skills. Recognizing that patients rely on your tone of voice during calls and facial expressions during video conferences, you can develop active listening skills and nonverbal cues to improve the clarity of your interactions.
Tech Savviness and Adaptability
Digital literacy is essential if you are planning to work as a telehealth nurse. Virtual nursing requires nurses to rely on the latest and most advanced healthcare technology, and they must constantly adapt to new platforms and tools developed to enhance the patient experience. In addition to being familiar and comfortable with these technologies, telehealth nurses also must be able to effectively troubleshoot technical issues to ensure a seamless patient experience.
Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Given the fact that telehealth nurses are working with patients remotely, it’s even more critical that they have well-developed critical thinking skills as well as expert clinical judgment.
Virtual nurses must rely on their critical thinking skills to interpret data from remote monitoring devices, assess patients remotely and make informed decisions about care plans. From there, they must utilize their clinical judgment to determine if a patient’s condition warrants a higher level of care.
Organization and Time Management
Organization and time management are critical in a virtual setting, where the expectation is that processes will move more swiftly and efficiently. When you prioritize organization and time management, you will be able to:
- Manage your daily tasks.
- Schedule virtual appointments more efficiently.
- Improve accuracy in documentation.
Cultural Competence and Health Literacy
Cultural competency in nursing is critical when providing care virtually, as it allows you to address the specific and unique needs of your patient. You can improve your cultural competence in virtual nursing by communicating clearly, accommodating your patients when they make requests and avoiding assumptions. To add, you also must verify your patients’ health literacy levels to be sure that they understand the information you are providing and the steps that they need to take moving forward.
Thriving in Telehealth Nursing: Best Practices for RNs
The best practices in telehealth nursing allow nurses to effectively navigate virtual settings, optimize their workflow and establish lasting, positive relationships with patients.
These are considered to be some of the best nursing telehealth strategies:
Mastering the Technology and Workflow
The technology that you use as a virtual nurse will vary based on your role and the clinic that you are working for. It is essential to master the specific telehealth platforms and tools specific to the practice’s system. This will allow you to streamline your workflow and assist patients with troubleshooting.
Building Rapport and Trust Virtually
Cultivating trust and building rapport is essential to successfully offering telehealth services. You can build trust in a virtual healthcare setting by:
- Focusing on your body language and making the patient feel comfortable.
- Maintaining eye contact throughout the virtual visit.
- Asking open-ended questions that foster conversation.
- Prioritizing cultural sensitivity to help patients feel more comfortable and confident.
Effective Patient Assessment and Triage
Tele-triage is a process being used more frequently in healthcare settings, as it allows providers to prioritize the needs of patients more effectively. To better assess patients remotely, you need to be able to:
- Quickly gather relevant medical history.
- Ask specific and relevant questions.
- Utilize tele-triage assessment tools.
Leveraging Telehealth for Patient Education and Engagement
Telehealth platforms have been shown to increase patient engagement, as these virtual settings provide you with an opportunity to use other tools and resources to educate patients about their health conditions, treatment plans and self-care strategies. By using visual aids and interactive tools, you can help patients better connect with their diagnosis and treatment options and make the best choice for their personal healthcare needs.
Collaborating With the Healthcare Team
Telehealth services are designed with collaboration in mind, so as a virtual nurse, it’s important that you prioritize clear and timely communication with other healthcare providers involved in the patient’s care. By sharing information, such as medical images and electronic health records, you can work with other providers to coordinate care plans and ensure seamless transitions between virtual and in-person care.
Maintaining Professionalism and Boundaries
The ethical principles in nursing that have long been adhered to still apply in a virtual setting. Maintaining professional boundaries is essential, particularly when providing remote healthcare services. It is paramount to establish clear expectations with your patients regarding privacy and ethical guidelines for telehealth practice.
Advocate for Telehealth Resources and Support
As you venture into the world of virtual nursing, it’s crucial to advocate for the resources, training and support you need to provide your patients with the best possible telehealth services. Through professional development and additional training, you can stay informed about technological advances and the best practices in virtual nursing.
Learn About Emerging Nursing Telehealth Trends at Nevada State University
When tackling the true purpose and question of “what is telehealth nursing?” telehealth is improving not only nurse-patient communication but also care delivery, ultimately making healthcare more accessible for millions of people. To learn more about emerging nursing telehealth trends and develop virtual nursing skills, pursue an RN to BSN online program at Nevada State University. We pride ourselves on the fact that we offer an innovative and evidence-based nursing education, providing nurses with the skills and knowledge needed to advance their careers.
Request more information about our online degree programs today.