With the internet, it’s a lot easier to hop on the internet and find anything that applies to our wants and needs. It has also paved the way for numerous business and has helped individuals thrive in newer and better ways. And yes, the healthcare industry has also reaped its fair share of rewards from these technological advances, including the ability to provide quality medical attention remotely, forgoing the need to meet with the patient for their most basic needs, such as medical counseling.

Nevertheless, while medical counseling over the phone, for example, has been around for quite some time, it’s the advances in medical and monitoring technology that allows us to provide better quality care than what we could just a couple of years ago. Nowadays, nurses can monitor the condition of their patients, including their vitals and other useful information, through the use of computers, as well as audio and visual equipment. These types of nurses that lend aid through the phone and internet are referred to as telehealth nurses.

What are telehealth nurses?

Simply put, a telehealth nurse is a registered nurse that has studied in both medicine and in the use of certain technological equipment to provide care to people who are in remote locations, and who might not have the means to travel.

The technologies employed by these nurses vary according to the context and the objective and include things such as voice-over-IP (VoIP) equipment, which allows them to converse with their patients in real time through the internet, and use all the tools that the internet offers. Through these tools, a specialist can connect computers and other monitoring equipment to provide live information about the patient, which will help provide an accurate assessment of the patient’s situation without the need for a physical examination.

Where do they work?

As you might have guessed from any remote job, telehealth nurses can work from anywhere! While some of them might prefer working in an office to “get in the working mood”, others are comfortable monitoring their patients from the comfort of their home, and only go out to perform physical examinations when necessary and if the patient is within driving distance. Also, the remote nature of the job makes it so that nurses can easily perform their duties in environments that require some sort of security clearance and tedious paperwork, like in prisons. In a nutshell, if the place can accommodate a computer with an internet connection, then a nurse can connect to it and provide her assessment from a remote location.

In an emergency setting, however, is where these professionals have the chance to truly shine. With the current nursing shortage affecting the country, the capacity to perform telephone triaging can help tremendously in hospitals that are severely understaffed. Specifically, in those cases that don’t merit serious medical attention, is where telehealth nursing thrives. In this sense, a professional can give instructions via phone or internet on how to treat minor burns, cuts, or bruises, while also saving valuable time for both the patient and the hospital.

Becoming a telehealth nurse

Like with most professions, most telehealth jobs actually require you to be certified in the actual specialty. In this case, you most likely will need a nursing license to work in this industry. However, some states allow you to administer counseling via phone and internet without being a registered nurse. In any case, you will need to consult with your state nursing representative about all the regulations. In addition, regardless of where you are or where you want to practice, you will always need to abide by the relevant federal regulations.

Regardless of the certifications, however, telehealth nurses must meet the standards of safety and care of any nurse practicing in a hospital environment. This means that they must fulfill all the standards issued by the American Nurses Association, including their competency standards. However, there are some standards specific to the telehealth industry, which anyone can consult through the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nurses, or through the ANA. Keep in mind that these standards are also in accordance with the ones issued by the International Council of Nursing, which presides over 130 countries around the globe.

The field of telehealth nursing is in constant growth nowadays. Those who work to provide counseling and assistance through the phone and internet are becoming quintessential for relieving the constant demand for medical services in most hospitals. As this demand grows, it is expected that the population of telehealth nurses will, in turn, increase as well.