Becoming a Telehealth Nurse in 3 Steps
Becoming a Telehealth Nurse: A Three-Step Guide
Telehealth nursing became increasingly prominent during the pandemic, providing a socially distanced healthcare solution. This enabled patients to receive assessments and treatments without needing to enter a clinic, hospital, or doctor's office.
Telehealth is not a recent development. Its origins date back to the late 1950s when a closed-circuit link was used for psychiatric consultations. Since then, telehealth has transformed significantly.
With advancements in technology, the methods nurses and other telehealth providers use to assess and deliver patient care have also progressed.
If you are considering a career as a telehealth nurse, here’s what you will discover:
- What is a telehealth nurse? - What duties do telehealth nurses carry out? - Where do telehealth nurses find employment? - What types of telehealth nurses exist? - How can you become a telehealth nurse in three steps? - What additional requirements are there for telehealth nurses? - What are the salary expectations and career outlook for telehealth nurses?
FAQs
Discover job opportunities in your area and get answers to all your nursing-related questions.
What is a telehealth nurse?
Telehealth nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who provide healthcare services to patients through various forms of technology and electronic devices. Delivering care remotely can be a complex process, and telehealth nurses play an essential role in it.
They can address minor health concerns or assess whether a patient needs emergency treatment. Remote healthcare delivery enhances efficiency and fosters equitable access to medical services. It is essential for telehealth practitioners to provide the same quality of care as traditional in-person services.
Key Traits of a Successful Telehealth Nurse
As telehealth nurses frequently use technology, being comfortable with tech is crucial for success in this role. Remote consultations may pose unique experiences for patients, so being empathetic, helpful, and positive is vital.
Other characteristics that aid in success include:
- Strong listening skills - Ability to work well in a team - Clear verbal communication - Recognizing the limitations of digital tools
What does a telehealth nurse do?
Like other nursing professionals, telehealth nurses' roles and responsibilities can differ based on their employer and specialty. Common tasks include:
- Assisting physicians by evaluating which patients need in-person intervention and which can be managed remotely. - Conducting consultations via video or phone to assess patient needs. - Providing education to patients about managing their symptoms.
A Day in the Life of a Telehealth Nurse
This role involves much more than just advising patients over the phone; modern technology enables better health monitoring and communication.
On a typical shift, you might:
- Track and report patient vitals like blood sugar and oxygen levels to healthcare teams. - Provide medical advice for minor health issues. - Organize specialist appointments and referrals for patients.
Conditions Commonly Treated by Telehealth Nurses
Telehealth nurses cannot address all medical conditions, as some necessitate physical examinations for accurate diagnosis. Nonetheless, frequent concerns they handle include:
- Non-specific back pain - Conjunctivitis (pink eye) - Diabetes management and follow-ups for established patients - Flu, Covid-19, and various infectious illnesses - Mental health issues (anxiety, depression) - Urinary tract infections
Where do telehealth nurses work?
The flexibility of telehealth nursing allows practitioners to work from virtually anywhere, with many conducting their duties from home.
When not working remotely, telehealth nurses can be found in various settings, including:
- Clinics - Hospitals - Outpatient care facilities - Physician's offices - Trauma centers
What are specific types of telehealth nurses?
Telehealth can be classified into four categories, requiring specific nursing roles:
- Live video telehealth nurses utilize audiovisual tools for real-time patient appointments. - Mobile health nurses communicate health alerts and information via devices. - Remote patient monitoring nurses collect and analyze patient data using technology. - Store-and-forward telehealth nurses send digital documents and images to specialists.
Related Career Paths
If you are interested in careers akin to telehealth nursing, consider the following options that can also be performed remotely:
- Case managers typically work for hospice or home care services, developing personalized care plans. - Nurse consultants act as experts and can work for healthcare organizations, insurers, and medical plans.
How do you become a telehealth nurse in 3 steps?
To become a telehealth nurse, several years of education, RN licensure, and relevant experience are necessary. Follow these three steps to embark on your nursing career.
Step 1 – Become a Registered Nurse
To qualify for telehealth roles, you must obtain RN licensure. Nurses can pursue an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Earn a BSN Degree
While an ADN can lead to RN status, most employers prefer, or even require, a BSN. You can obtain a bachelor's degree through several routes.
If you are already an RN, you can opt for an RN to BSN program to expedite your degree. If you possess a bachelor's degree in a different field, you may qualify for an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.
Pass the NCLEX Exam
The next step in becoming a telehealth nurse is successfully passing the NCLEX exam. This exam contains between 75 and 265 questions to evaluate your competency as an entry-level RN.
If you do not pass on your first attempt, you must wait 45 days to retake the exam.
Step 2 – Gain Experience
Once licensed, you need to seek out experience to build the requisite skills for telehealth nursing. Most nurses work in traditional RN roles for a couple of years before pursuing telehealth positions.
Valuable Skills and Experience
Telehealth nursing's virtual nature necessitates excellent communication skills to compensate for the absence of in-person interactions with patients. Accumulating bedside care experience is advisable, as it prepares you for managing common health issues that you will treat in a telehealth capacity.
Switching to Telehealth Nursing
Current RNs can transition into telehealth by taking continuing education courses tailored to this specialty to equip themselves for the unique challenges of telehealth work.
Step 3 – Obtain Certifications
The final step in becoming a telehealth nurse is to obtain certification. While no specific certification exists solely for telehealth nursing, one widely recognized option is the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification, offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Eligibility criteria for certification include:
- Holding an active RN license - Having two years of experience as a full-time RN - Accumulating at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice in telehealth or ambulatory care over the last three years - Completing 30 hours of continuing education in ambulatory care or telehealth nursing within the past three years
Continuing education is essential for maintaining certifications, with available resources providing free nursing CEUs to help fulfill these requirements.
What are additional requirements for telehealth nurses?
Like all RNs, telehealth nurses must periodically renew their licenses. Consult your licensing board for specific renewal guidelines based on your state's policies.
Certifications must also remain current, often necessitating periodic exams or ongoing education in specific healthcare subjects.
What are salary expectations and career outlooks for telehealth nurses?
Telehealth offers advantages to both healthcare providers and patients. As of April 2023, a considerable number of physicians had started to provide virtual consultations, with intentions of continuing telehealth services due to patient preference. This nursing specialty also affords flexibility in work environments.
By 2028, the healthcare industry anticipates a demand for more nursing professionals. The annual salary for telehealth nurses is highly competitive.
Job Satisfaction
Many telehealth nurses find fulfillment in working from the comfort of their homes. RNs who seek out professional development opportunities often report higher satisfaction levels.
Next Steps
For telehealth nurses looking to further their careers, numerous opportunities exist. Consider advancing your education by pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing, which can lead to roles in management and leadership.
You may also aim for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), enhancing your role and autonomy within the healthcare landscape.
FAQs
What defines a telehealth nurse? Telehealth nurses are RNs who utilize technology to provide remote healthcare services. Where do telehealth nurses practice? Some nurse practitioners work from home, while others are found in clinics, hospitals, outpatient care facilities, and trauma centers. What is the average salary for a telehealth nurse? Telehealth nurses enjoy competitive salaries. What is the path to becoming a telehealth nurse? Step one is education, with a preference for an MSN; step two involves passing the NCLEX exam; and step three entails gaining experience and obtaining relevant certifications."}
