Hospitals embrace virtual nursing, AI to solve staffing crisis
ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES — Healthcare systems are adopting virtual nursing and AI solutions to address chronic staffing shortages and improve patient care.
In a recent study by Wolters Kluwer, it revealed that with eight out of ten nurse leaders are piloting alternative care models, hospitals aim to reduce costs while giving nurses more time for direct patient interaction.
Virtual nursing gains traction as retention tool
Hospitals are increasingly pairing bedside nurses with virtual counterparts to handle documentation and calls, freeing up in-person care time.
Advocate Health, which has deployed virtual nursing at 29 hospitals, reports strong adoption, particularly among new nurses who value mentorship and support.
The co-care model, where nurses rotate between virtual and bedside roles, has proven effective in easing workloads. Early career nurses now consider virtual support a key factor when choosing employers, signaling a shift in workforce expectations.
“You can see that virtual nursing could be a big help outside of the four walls of the hospital as well. It is something that we have on our map to address,” said Betty Jo Rocchio, chief nurse executive at the Charlotte, North Carolina-based system.
AI cuts documentation time as home care expands
Mercy Health’s AI program reduced nurse charting time by 34 minutes per shift, from 167 to 133 minutes, addressing a major pain point.
The health system’s ambient AI pilot, now nearly three years old, has proven critical in streamlining workflows while maintaining care quality.
These initiatives emphasize nurse-led design, hospitals are collaborating with staff to ensure tech solutions actually improve workflows rather than adding burden.
“We are constantly looking at what’s the next workflow to continue to move us into a balanced state where technology alleviates a cognitive burden, reduces time spent with technology interaction and the nurse the time back for patient family interactions,” Breece said.
