In recent years, telehealth nursing has become an appealing option to many current and prospective nurses due to its flexibility and wide variety of specialty options. Read about how Felician University prepares you to become a telehealth and your ABSN program options.
If you are passionate about nursing but are unsure if your lifestyle is compatible with a traditional nursing job, consider telehealth nursing. As a telehealth nurse, you will still experience patient interactions and help people, but with the added benefit of locational flexibility.
With Felician University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, you can make this dream a reality by earning a BSN in just 16-18 months. With our accelerated hybrid and on-ground options, Felician University can jumpstart your career in telehealth nursing.
What Is Telehealth Nursing?
According to the American Nurses Association, telehealth nursing describes “nursing professionals who care for patients from a geographical distance via audio or visual modalities.” Telehealth nursing emerged as a relatively standard practice method in response to the COVID-19 pandemic when it became difficult for medical practitioners to see their patients safely. As a result, many professionals discovered the benefits of telehealth treatment and continued utilizing it even after facilities reopened.
A telehealth nurse may have many different roles depending on the type of remote position. A day in the life of a telehealth nurse might vary from coordinating care schedules and telephone appointments to arranging clinical cooperation to monitoring patient telemetry. These are just a few examples of what a telehealth nurse does. Because the role is so flexible, numerous options are available if you choose to enter the field.
How to Become a Telehealth Nurse
The road to telehealth nursing looks quite similar to that of a traditional nurse. You must have a nursing degree and current nursing licensure. You should also gain in-person work experience for at least a couple of years before applying for remote positions.
Many telehealth employers look for individuals with technical skills to easily navigate the online systems and be able to help patients navigate them as well. In addition, research any additional training or qualifications pertaining to the area of nursing you wish to enter, as certain telehealth nursing specialties require this.
There are also many telehealth positions open to Nurse Practitioners (NPs). As an NP, you will treat patients directly, provide diagnoses, order tests, and prescribe medications. In many states, telehealth NPs can also open their own independent practices. For this nursing position, you will need a nursing graduate degree. If you are interested in pursuing a career as an NP, remember to check with your state board for requirements and restrictions.
How Felician University Prepares You for Telehealth Nursing
If the remote modality of nursing sounds appealing and you wonder which degree to pursue, the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at Felician University might be a perfect fit. We offer a 16-month online hybrid program and an 18-month on-ground program. Both programs are fully accredited and provide the same nursing knowledge base you would receive in a traditional program. Earning a BSN on an accelerated basis can help you begin a career as a telehealth nurse as soon as possible.
Through Felician University, you will have the opportunity to gain real-life experience in simulation labs and clinical rotations. Whether you choose the hybrid online or the on-ground option, you will apply what you learn in your classes to actual patient encounters.
Wondering if the online nursing program is right for you? Here is your comprehensive guide to online nursing.
As a telehealth nurse, you must determine what issues the patient is facing and how to treat them without seeing them in person. While this may seem difficult, Felician University’s ABSN program will help prepare you to become familiar with evaluating patients within a clinical setting and making judgment calls on a day-to-day basis.
Career Options for a Telehealth Nurse
As a telehealth nurse, you are certainly not limited in your career path. Not only is there flexibility in geographic work location but also in nursing specialties. The world is adapting to virtual healthcare, and as such, the demand for nurses is increasing in a wide variety of fields.
Here are just a few employment options available to you.
Psychiatric and Mental Health Telehealth Nurse
Psychiatric and mental health telehealth nurses help to coordinate patient treatment in therapy and other mental health facilities. Their primary goal is to support the mental health of their patients through scheduling, follow-ups, and creating a treatment plan.
Telehealth Triage Nurse
Triage nurses are the first to speak with patients and help ensure that they receive the specific type of help needed. They ask questions about a patient’s situation, assess their symptoms, and determine where to direct their call to be treated by the proper medical professional. They also consult with physicians when needed in the treatment plan.
Poison Control Telehealth Nurse
The primary role of a poison control nurse (or specialist in poison information) is to receive and provide care for those who call the poison control helpline. These nurses have special training in toxicology and extensive knowledge of symptoms and treatments in this very specific type of patient care.
Telehealth Public Health Nurse
Public health nurses differ from traditional nurses in that they work toward preventing disease and promoting the overall wellness of the general population. Rather than working with patients one-on-one to treat health problems, they focus on the long-term health outcomes of the public as a whole. This might entail conducting virtual home visits, providing resources to a school or jail, and working as a virtual nurse for a community health clinic. Even in this specific field, you have a wide variety of options.
Telehealth Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners, or NPs, are nurses with higher qualifications and abilities than registered nurses. NPs can prescribe medication and diagnose patients. Many NPs even open their own telehealth practice and operate much like telehealth physicians. They provide care over the phone, writing referrals and creating treatment plans much like they would in person.
Are you curious about other nursing focuses outside of telehealth? Here are 13 nursing specialties that might interest you.
Get Started With Felician’s ABSN Program
Now that you have a better understanding of the world of telehealth nursing, it’s time to take the first step toward your nursing career. Regardless of your educational background or stage of life, Felician University allows you to pursue a nursing degree.
Reach out to an admissions counselor today to get started.