Virtual nursing is a care model in which experienced nurses deliver expertise and medical care to patients through remote videoconferencing technology, supporting their team at the bedside virtually. Rounding software is designed to help healthcare providers streamline communication, documentation, and collaboration during patient encounters through this care model.
Virtual nursing is a practice where nurses use remote video conferencing to provide expertise and perform tasks without being physically present in a healthcare facility. This technology-driven approach enables nurses to carry out routine, yet crucial, aspects of patient care in a more time-efficient, effective way.
Some nursing-related tasks that can be conducted virtually include:
Prior to 2020, the use of virtual nurses was largely confined to traditional nurse hotline settings. This shifted, however, as healthcare organizations began to leverage virtual nurses to handle basic, routine tasks during busy times, optimizing their patient care teams.
Tasks like intake, discharge and basic charting were delegated to extensive virtual nursing pools. This strategic move allowed staff nurses to concentrate on in-person patient care, where their presence was most crucial.
Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the practice gained momentum as hospitals witnessed an increase in volume of patients and workforce shortages. Ultimately, there was a demand for more virtual care options, and virtual nursing offered a great solution. Since then, it’s showed no signs of slowing down. In 2022, healthcare saw a 34% increase in the number of virtual nursing programs around the United States.
This growth reflects a broader trend of innovation necessitated by staffing shortages projected to worsen in the coming years; by 2027, it is predicted that about 900,000, or one-fifth of the 4.5 million total registered nurses, will leave the workforce. This statistic underscores the urgent need for innovative care models like virtual nursing, which can ensure that patients continue to receive quality care despite these challenges.
Recognizing the escalating crisis, Jennifer Ball, director of virtual care at Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, emphasized to HealthTech, the need for innovation in staffing: “None of us are going to have the complement of nurses that we would like to have moving forward, so we have to get creative with the way that we provide care.”
In addition to the growing number of nurses leaving the profession, the healthcare system faces unprecedented challenges due to the aging baby boomer population. The nursing workforce itself is aging, with a median age of 52, and approximately 4.7 million nurses are projected to retire by 2030.
Virtual nursing offers a valuable solution, creating opportunities for these experienced professionals to continue their careers in a less physically demanding role.
Virtual nursing has contributed to patient empowerment by providing necessary support, and enhancing convenience. It has also been linked to improved job satisfaction among nurses.
Other benefits of virtual nursing include:
Rounding software is essential for the success of virtual nursing; it streamlines regular check-ins, assessments, and communication by providing nurses with comprehensive checklists and all necessary information during a virtual engagement. This tool ensures that care delivery is both efficient and comprehensive.
Key benefits of rounding software in the context of virtual nursing include:
Beyond assisting with regular check-ins and assessments, rounding software enhances virtual safety huddles, where interdisciplinary teams come together to identify potential risks, discuss near-misses, and address safety concerns.
Recent studies have found that safety huddles improve team communication, collaboration, and coordination, leading to enhanced efficiency and better functioning across clinical roles. By fostering open communication and collaboration, these huddles create an opportunity for sharing insights, best practices, and lessons learned, ultimately improving overall patient safety.
By centralizing patient data and care plans, digital rounding ensures transparency and accountability in decision-making processes.
By automating routine tasks and streamlining workflows, virtual rounding helps reduce the burden on virtual nurses, allowing them to give more time and attention to high-value activities such as patient education and care coordination. Not only does this reduce burnout rates, but it fosters a sense of fulfillment and purpose among healthcare professionals, improving job satisfaction and patient outcomes.
Looking toward the future of healthcare, rounding software serves as a valuable tool with a shift toward patient-centered care. Its role in virtual nursing is transformative, enabling efficient remote care and fostering ongoing improvement and excellence. Thus, rounding software is essential in driving forward the evolution and success of virtual nursing, embodying innovation, and a commitment to quality care.
Learn how Performance Health Partners’ rounding software can help your organization improve outcomes in virtual nursing. Click here to get started.