In an era where remote work is becoming the norm, the demand for virtual healthcare, or telehealth services, is on the rise.
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantines have further accelerated the prevalence of telehealth. According to McKinsey & Company’s research, telehealth use surged 38 times from the pre-pandemic baseline in July 2021.
Understanding Telehealth in Nursing
Telehealth utilizes telecommunications technologies like video conferencing to deliver healthcare, health education, and health administration. This method also encompasses the electronic transmission of health information, utilizing channels such as the internet, virtual imaging, and streaming media.
A 2019 report in the journal Nursing highlights the longstanding use of telehealth practices in nursing, dating back to the 1970s. As technology has evolved, telehealth nurses now engage in various activities, including discussing healthcare issues, clarifying treatment options, providing patient education, assisting with appointment scheduling, and offering pre- and post-procedure guidance.
Telehealth’s impact on nursing practice has grown significantly since its inception. The American Nurses Association (ANA) emphasizes that telehealth services must adhere to the same legal and ethical standards as in-person care. These standards include grounding all care in the Nurses Code of Ethics, compliance with healthcare laws, meeting state-specific regulations, congruence with in-person care, and maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality.
Roles of Nurses in Telenursing
Nurses play a pivotal role in telenursing, engaging in live video conferencing, remote patient monitoring (RPM), and mobile health (mHealth). Telenursing has become an extension of many healthcare providers’ offerings, with nurses working remotely or within dedicated telehealth facilities.
As telenursing gains popularity, nursing professionals, especially those pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), can enhance their skills through telehealth-focused programs. This includes staying updated on the latest technologies and best practices to deliver optimal virtual healthcare services. Embracing telehealth ensures that patients receive high-quality care, regardless of whether it’s in person or online.
The nurse’s role in telehealth is wide-ranging. According to the American Nurses Association, a role of a nurse in telenursing might look like:
- Live (synchronous) video conferencing, including the transmission of recorded health history to a specialist or health practitioner
- Remote patient monitoring (RPM), using connected electronic tools to record personal health and medical data in one location for review by a provider in another location, typically at a different time
- Mobile health (mHealth), providing public health information and health care via mobile devices, including notifications about disease outbreaks, general education information and targeted texts
Today, telehealth is an extension of many health care providers’ health plans, offices and hospitals. Telenursing services may be provided by nurses working remotely from their homes, in independent nursing practices, or for corporations where multiple telehealth nurses work in a single location.
Sometimes telehealth nurses are available 24/7 to answer questions about symptoms and provide evidence-based guidelines. Telehealth nurses may also assist with ambulance dispatch in life-threatening situations.
Since telehealth is becoming a more popular option for patients and health care providers, experience in telenursing may be helpful for nursing professionals. RNs who are working on a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can learn about telehealth in their programs, including the latest technologies and best practices to employ.
The Pros and Cons of Telehealth
Advantages and disadvantages of telenursing:
Advantages of Telenursing | Disadvantages of Telenursing |
---|---|
1. Increased Patient Access: Telehealth expands healthcare access, especially in remote areas. | 1. Inappropriateness in Emergencies: In critical situations, delays in in-person care may lead to health complications. |
2. Enhanced Nursing Efficiency: Telehealth supports patient retention, decreases on-call hours, and offers 24/7 care. | 2. Lack of Insurance Coverage: Some insurance plans may not cover telehealth services, leading to potential increased costs for patients. |
3. Financial Savings: Patients and the healthcare system benefit economically, reducing unnecessary emergency visits. | 3. Healthcare Fraud Risk: Online storage of medical data poses security risks and potential data breaches. |
4. Peace of Mind for Patients: Telehealth provides support, encouragement, and confidence-building for patients. | 4. Compromised Treatment Accuracy: Accuracy risks may arise due to the absence of physical, in-person evaluations. |
5. Decreased Risk of Illness Spread: Virtual healthcare prevents the spread of contagious illnesses in medical settings. | 5. Licensing Limitations: Some healthcare providers may face legal restrictions when offering services across state lines. |
6. More Convenience: telenursing eliminates logistical burdens for patients and increases access, especially for those with disabilities. | 6. Technology Learning Curve: Constant evolution of telenursing technology requires ongoing training for healthcare providers. |
7. Collaboration Opportunities: Telehealth nurses collaborate effectively with other healthcare providers, fostering teamwork. | 7. Limited Physical Examination: Some assessments require hands-on physical examinations, which are challenging in a virtual setting. |
8. Improved Patient Satisfaction: Patients often report higher satisfaction levels with telehealth services. | 8. Patient Resistance: Some patients may be hesitant or resistant to virtual healthcare, impacting adoption rates. |
9. Proactive Healthcare: Telenursing encourages patients to take a proactive approach to their healthcare and preventive care. | 9. Technical Issues: Glitches, connectivity problems, and technology failures can disrupt telenursing sessions. |
10. Access to Skilled Nursing: Skilled and empathetic nurses can deliver quality care through telehealth technologies. | 10. Privacy Concerns: Patients may have concerns about the privacy and confidentiality of virtual healthcare sessions. |
Telenursing offers a range of convenient benefits for both patients and healthcare providers, evolving alongside technological advancements and increasing patient comfort with remote healthcare.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 56% of Americans doubted the efficacy of telehealth compared to in-person care. By 2021, nearly 80% believed in the possibility of receiving high-quality healthcare remotely.
In March 2020, 19.5% of Americans experienced a telehealth appointment; by March 2021, this number surpassed 61%.
Over 87% of telehealth patients express a desire to continue using virtual services for non-urgent consultations in the future.
Despite its rising popularity, telehealth isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Certain medical situations necessitate in-person interactions for proper treatment. To ensure patient safety, it’s crucial to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of telehealth and telenursing.
The Benefits of Telenursing
- Enhanced Nursing Care Efficiency:
Telehealth aids patient retention, reduces on-call hours for healthcare providers, and offers continuous care, including after hours and on weekends. - Financial Savings:
Both patients and the healthcare system benefit from financial savings. Avoiding unnecessary emergency department visits and eliminating overhead costs contribute to economic efficiency. - Peace of Mind for Patients:
Telehealth nurses instill confidence, provide support, and encourage proactive healthcare, improving preventive care and long-term health outcomes. - Decreased Risk of Illness Spread:
For contagious illnesses, virtual healthcare prevents the spread in medical settings, safeguarding patients and healthcare providers. - More Convenience:
Eliminating the need for childcare or transportation, telehealth enhances access to care, especially for individuals with disabilities or those geographically isolated.
The Drawbacks
- Inappropriateness in Life-Threatening Situations:
In emergencies, a delay in in-person care could lead to severe health problems or even death. - Lack of Insurance Coverage:
Some insurance plans may not cover telehealth services, potentially resulting in increased costs for patients. - Healthcare Fraud Risk:
Online storage of medical data is susceptible to hacking and digital theft, posing risks to patient privacy when using unsecured networks for telehealth services. - Compromised Treatment Accuracy:
Telehealth may introduce accuracy risks, as certain symptoms might be misinterpreted compared to in-person evaluations. - Licensing Limitations:
Licensing issues may limit telehealth capabilities, preventing healthcare providers from legally offering services across state lines. Adherence to local laws is crucial.
Preparing Nurses for Telehealth Roles
Nurses transitioning to telehealth roles often bring valuable in-person patient care experience. On-the-job training programs facilitate the acquisition of telehealth technologies proficiency and offer supervised practice in delivering telenursing services.
Online nursing education programs, such as those provided by Purdue University Northwest, address telenursing subjects, delivering relevant education to prepare nurses for the evolving landscape of healthcare.
In-Demand Skills for Telenursing
For nurses aspiring to work in telehealth, cultivating essential skills is paramount. These skills, akin to those in traditional nursing, include:
- Communication Skills:
Effective communication is crucial in telehealth. Nurses must gather information, listen attentively, and communicate recommendations clearly for optimal patient understanding and adherence to best practices. - Technology Skills:
Telehealth technology evolves rapidly. Nurses must be adept at learning new systems, using software, and utilizing applications such as video conferencing to provide efficient and effective care. - Critical-Thinking Skills:
Telehealth nurses navigate complex situations, requiring high-level critical thinking. They must determine when corrective action is necessary and coordinate treatment plans for optimal outcomes. - Collaboration Skills:
Collaboration is key in telehealth, as nurses often work with various healthcare providers. Empathy, relationship-building, and strong collaboration skills enhance the effectiveness of telenursing.
As we embrace the new paradigm of telehealth, nurses are encouraged to take the lead in its integration within healthcare. This shift signifies a pivotal moment for nursing to optimize the efficiency, effectiveness, and implementation of telehealth, recognizing its permanence in healthcare delivery.
In the telenursing realm, nurses maintain their scope of practice while leveraging telehealth technologies. Utilizing videoconferencing, remote patient monitoring, and advanced peripherals, nurses promote patient wellness, assess and provide care in diverse settings, manage chronic conditions, support transitions of care, and contribute to end-of-life care.
The significance of telenursing, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizes the need for nursing programs to integrate telehealth content into their curricula. As telehealth becomes integral to healthcare delivery, nurses prepared to deliver empathetic and skilled care through evolving technologies play a pivotal role in ensuring quality patient outcomes.