Virtual nursing to lessen 12-hour bedside shifts

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — As more U.S. hospitals utilize virtual nurses in their operations, a nurse leader believes that the model will lessen 12-hour bedside shifts.

“Virtual nursing will be in many hospitals across the country in the coming years,” Sandy Alexander, RN, an associate nursing officer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told Verywell. 

“It will help healthcare organizations retain experienced nurses who no longer want to work 12-hour shifts at the bedside.”

Medical firms have used this model before. In fact, the Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin have been using a virtual nursing program since 2005, which involves nurse triage, RN-RN consultation, admission assessment support, ICU-general care transfer support, and watch list support. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed systems to adapt to the new care model quickly due to the influx of patients and the exodus of healthcare professionals. 

Post-pandemic, more hospitals are seeing the benefits of virtual nurses, especially given the staffing shortage plaguing U.S. systems. 

Data from research and consulting firm ITIC reveals a 34% increase in hospitals using some form of virtual nursing.

Virtual nurses have enabled floor nurses to devote more time to their patients, which effectively enhances healthcare delivery. 

“Our patients are enjoying the dedicated time with a real (human) nurse who is walking them through either admission type intake and/or discharge education,” Steve Klahn, RN, virtual medicine-clinical director at Houston Methodist, told Verywell. 

“We have supported over 100,000 patient encounters since program inception, and the program is continuing to grow.”