Telehealth Nurse: Exploring the Increasingly Popular Specialty

• Becoming a telehealth nurse involves several steps, including licensure and specialized training.
• Work settings for a telehealth nurse range from telemedicine clinics to telephonic nursing services.
• Nurses who value working with cutting-edge technology will likely benefit from working in a telehealth setting.

Telehealth is becoming increasingly popular for a variety of reasons. Convenience is a huge factor for patients, as they can visit their healthcare providers from home. Accessibility is also essential for patients who live in remote locations or lack transportation to get to their appointments. Providers have become more accessible through technology, cutting down on transportation costs for the patient and overhead costs for providers. Telehealth also encourages continuity of care, allowing more frequent check-ins, particularly for patients with chronic conditions.

Steps to Becoming a Telehealth Nurse

Becoming a telehealth nurse typically involves several steps: 

1. Licensure: Nurses must be licensed as registered nurses in the state where they provide services, and patients must be physically present in the state where the nurse is licensed.  
2. Experience: Before transitioning into telehealth, gaining experience in a setting with direct patient care is essential. I’ve learned through my own job search experience that many telehealth companies prefer experience in the Emergency Department because nurses gain highly relevant assessment and triage skills there.  
3. Specialized training: Although not required by all employers, some nurses might want to seek specialized training. The American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing offers telehealth nursing content through its ambulatory care nursing certification. Telehealth nurses provide care to patients in ambulatory care settings (e.g., the home), so they must possess the competencies appropriate for such care.  
4. Proficiency in telehealth technology: Nurses will want to familiarize themselves with the providers’ technology and software platforms. This includes electronic medical records (EMR) systems, video conferencing, and remote monitoring devices.  
5. Continuing education: Stay abreast of best practices and professional developmental opportunities through annual continuing education requirements.

Skills and Traits Required of a Telehealth Nurse

To become a telehealth nurse, it’s essential to possess the following skills and traits: 

• Clear verbal communication: Active listening is equally important to ensure nurses understand the patient’s concerns and symptoms.  
• Clinical decision-making: Because patients cannot perform a physical exam, observing and listening to their symptoms is essential. They may present with vague symptoms or be poor historians, so critical thinking and accurate decision-making skills are crucial.  
• Empathy: Telehealth nurses should demonstrate empathy as patients present with various complaints. They may also need to discuss sensitive subjects, so it’s essential to understand their concerns. 
• Cultural sensitivity: Similar to bedside nursing, nurses should be aware of cultural backgrounds that might influence patient care and beliefs. 

Work Settings for Telehealth Nurses

The work settings for nurses using telehealth technology can vary. Some standard settings include:

• Telemedicine clinics: Nurses may choose to work for telemedicine clinics that offer primary care services, urgent care services, or specialty consultations using telehealth platforms.
• Healthcare systems and hospitals: Nurses might work remotely in hospital settings to provide virtual consultations, discharge planning, and follow-up care.
• Telephonic nursing services: This line of telehealth services includes triage services, nursing advice, and patient education. Insurance companies, private companies, or healthcare organizations might offer these roles.
• Remote patient monitoring: Nurses can monitor patients’ vital signs and health data using digital devices, such as blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, and scales. They collect and analyze the data and communicate with the patient when their data necessitates intervention.

Benefits of Becoming a Telehealth Nurse

Telehealth nursing benefits for nurses are similar to those for patients. For starters, nurses can work from the comfort of their own homes. Just know that you’ll need a quiet space to take patient calls, which must be free from distractions and noise and be in a HIPAA-compliant environment.

Working from home also eliminates a daily commute and associated transportation costs. Nurses might also enjoy the variety of patients they meet via video conferencing as patients could call in from all over the country (if nursing licensure permits, taking calls from other states).

Nurses who value working with cutting-edge technology will likely benefit from working in a telehealth setting. They might have the opportunity to contribute to developing innovative telehealth solutions as technology continues to evolve.  

The Bottom Line

Telehealth is an evolving field in healthcare as technology advances. Various options are available for nurses’ seeking opportunities in this field. Working as a telehealth nurse offers many opportunities for those seeking flexibility, growth, and the ability to impact patients’ lives positively. 

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