What is a telehealth nurse?
Technology and remote work are constantly evolving. Advancing technology provides new opportunities in various fields, from sales to teaching to entrepreneurship. One field that has changed drastically with the increase in new technology is nursing 
. Telehealth nursing allows registered nurses (RN) to connect with patients through electronic means, such as videoconferencing, mobile apps, email and phone calls, from anywhere with an internet connection. From the daily tasks to the benefits, here are some things to consider about working in telehealth as an RN.
What do telehealth nurses do?
The field of healthcare provides patients with opportunities to seek care for medical conditions from the comfort of their home. It can assist patients who have mobility impairments or other conditions that prevent them from regularly going to a hospital, healthcare provider’s office or outpatient clinic. It can also be a helpful resource to people who have a fear of or an aversion to going to a hospital and may not otherwise seek treatment.
Telehealth may be an attractive job for established registered nurses, as they can explore the world of remote work while continuing to help others and provide quality patient care.
Telehealth nurses may work remotely to assist patients. They are often the first point of contact for a patient, evaluate the severity of a patient’s condition and provide necessary information to a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. The daily tasks of a nurse working in telehealth may include:
- Conducting virtual visits: This can include messaging, emailing, texting, calling and videoconferencing.
- Arranging follow-up care: Sometimes patients need a follow-up appointment with their doctor or nurse. Telehealth nurses may be charged with arranging follow-up care as needed.
- Monitoring vitals: Patients with certain conditions or those who use telehealth services regularly may use handheld monitors and other devices that check the patient’s vitals. The nurse is responsible for recording the results and noting any differences.
- Communicating with healthcare staff: Telehealth nurses work closely with doctors to provide care for their patients. They may be responsible for supervising nurse aides as well.
Much like in-person nursing, duties of a nurse working remotely are focused on patient care. An RN already working in the field can transfer their current skill set into a virtual environment.
Who hires telehealth nurses?
Nurses working in telehealth are in a variety of healthcare settings. Hospitals or doctor’s offices can hire them. Some are hired to work for companies that exclusively offer virtual healthcare services for their patients.
Healthcare providers look for the same skills and qualifications needed for in-person nursing jobs. They also look for exceptional communication skills that will help the RN to succeed in providing care in a virtual environment.
If you are a working nurse interested in a telehealth position, you may wish to investigate whether your current employer offers a telehealth option and the possibility of shifting your work from in-person to remote.
How do you become a telehealth nurse?
To work in a telehealth position, one must first become a licensed RN. This requires a specific education and state licensure. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nurses often follow one of three educational paths. They either earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN); a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN); or graduate from an approved nursing program. Some employers may require nurses with an ASN or ADN to earn a BSN degree.
To become licensed to practice in their state, RNs must pass the National Council Licensure Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN®). To meet the requirements for a telenursing position, some employers may require multiple years of bedside experience. After passing the NCLEX and obtaining state licensure as an RN, nurses can apply for positions where they can gain bedside knowledge of providing quality patient care.
Employers also may require additional certification, though there is no specifically required certification to work in telenursing. According to Nurse.org , practicing RNs may choose to obtain the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (RN-BC), offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing. This certification covers skills necessary in an ambulatory care setting, which can be helpful in telenursing.
What skills are important for a telehealth nurse?
Since the telenurse will be performing examinations remotely, it is important to have good listening skills to understand what patients are saying. Even though you will be speaking to patients through a computer or phone, you should help them feel like they are being listened to and that their health problems are important to you.
You also need to have good communication skills so that you can properly instruct your patients as to the next steps of their care. It’s important to have good people skills to judge the severity of issues, accurately describe symptoms and help people through the stress caused by health conditions.
Beyond listening and communication skills, critical and creative thinking skills are vital. You will need to be able to analyze data and propose effective solutions to health problems.
Benefits of working in telehealth
Just as telehealth expands access to healthcare for a variety of people, it also expands the availability of jobs since the work is performed remotely. You can be a nurse and help patients while working from the comfort of your own home. This can be helpful if you need to be home for personal or health-related reasons or if there is a shortage of in-person open positions for nurses in your location.
Furthermore, a virtual nursing job can be just as rewarding as a regular, face-to-face nursing job since you are helping people, interacting with patients and finding solutions to health issues. Everything that you love about nursing can be found in a remote nursing position.
Working as a telehealth nurse, you can help people create better and healthier lives by providing aid in a virtual environment. Depending on your working environment, you will also be able to develop relationships with long-term and regular patients throughout your career.
How much does a telehealth nurse make?
As of May 2023, registered nurses in the United States earned an annual salary ranging between $63,720 and $132,680 , with a median wage of $86,070, according to BLS. This amount can change subject to location, experience, job level and level of education. BLS also projects employment for nursing to grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032.
Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.
BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.
Working as a remote nurse allows more flexibility and comfort in a nursing career. These nurses are able to work from home while still helping patients in their area and throughout the country who are experiencing difficult health conditions and chronic illnesses.
Beyond becoming a telehealth nurse, explore degree programs for RNs
University of Phoenix (UOPX) does not offer degrees or certificates that can specifically guarantee a telehealth nurse position. However, UOPX offers a few online nursing degrees for registered nurses who are looking to earn their degree while gaining valuable bedside experience. If you’re eager to grow your knowledge and skill set within the nursing field, UPOX offers the following degree options:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at University of Phoenix where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Dr. Raelene Brooks, dean of the College of Nursing, has been a registered nurse for more than 25 years and practiced extensively in the areas of ICU, trauma and critical care. Her publications include a focus on nursing education, critical care and diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a leader in creating, guiding and launching innovative curriculum.
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