Now, telehealth nursing is being used by hospitals to lighten the workload for strained bedside workers and fill gaps where administrative and minor tasks require trained and licensed nurses but do not require a nurse’s physical presence.
Virtual nurses can assist in-person physicians with admissions, conduct initial patient interviews, handle discharges and offer confirmation on medications that require two nurse signatures.
Telehealth nurses earn an average of $63,000 a year, compared to registered nurses nationwide, who earn around $89,000, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Some facilities, including AdventHealth Fish Memorial in Orange City, Fla., have launched virtual nursing pilot programs specifically to address burnout.
The pilot program began in two nursing units and the emergency department, with virtual nurses assisting primary staff, handling admissions, enhancing patient education, providing virtual observation and helping new nurses.
The hospital’s turnover rate dropped from 30% to 9% with the pilot virtual nurses program, according to the report.
Another health system, Kansas City, Mo.-based St. Luke’s, also launched a virtual nursing program in 2019 to address staffing issues. The launch helped with staffing ratios, as virtual nurses took over admissions handling, medication management, skin assessments and discharge education.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.