Remote Nursing Jobs Benefit Both Patients and Caregivers

Choosing a career as a nurse can feel thankless at times. Despite how integral they are to proper patient care, nurses are routinely underappreciated and overworked on the job. Any truthful doctor, surgeon, or hospital administrator will tell you the entire healthcare system in this country would fall apart within a few hours if it weren’t for all of the dedicated nurses working exceedingly long shifts and overtime on a regular basis. 

Nursing has never been for the faint of heart, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 turned the situation from challenging to unbearable for countless nurses all over the USA (and world, for that matter). As the spread of SARS-CoV-19 packed and overwhelmed ICUs and emergency rooms, much of the medical heavy lifting associated with the pandemic fell at the feet of nurses.

For instance, a survey of nurses conducted earlier this year by Florida Atlantic University shockingly found that just one-third are planning on remaining in their chosen field moving forward. Another fourth of surveyed caregivers went so far as to say they’re planning on leaving nursing within just one to two years. An astounding 40 percent of nurses flat out said their on-the-job experiences during the pandemic had “dramatically increased” their desire to find a new field.

When asked about the biggest problem facing nursing today, more than half had the same answer: Understaffing; there simply aren’t enough nurses available to meet patient needs. Consequently, burnout is incredibly common among nurses, now more than ever, but this problem runs far deeper than needing an extra nap or two. Research published in the scientific journal JAMA Psychiatry came to the sobering conclusion that female nurses are twice as likely to die from suicide as other women, and 70 percent more likely than female doctors. 

Remote Nursing: A plus for both patients and nurses

On a more positive note, the COVID-19 pandemic did present the nursing industry with at least one silver lining. As the coronavirus forced all of us to stay home and avoid contact with others, the entire healthcare industry had to accelerate its adoption of remote patient monitoring technologies. 

Fast forward to today and remote nursing has quickly established itself as a legitimate career option for countless RNs looking to make a professional change and escape the grind of constant overtime and burnout. For nurses, the benefits of caring for their patients remotely are undeniable; less stress, a more comfortable working environment, greater schedule flexibility, and less risk to their own health, just to name a few. 

On the other side of the stethoscope, it’s understandable why patients may be a bit more apprehensive about remote nursing. While the notion of looking after a patient from an entirely different location does sound strange at first, it’s key to remember just how far technology has come in recent years. 

A relevant report released last year by University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center describes how the remote patient monitoring efforts put in place during the pandemic promoted marked improvements in patient safety and health outcomes. The report details how innovations like at-home pulse oximeters and heart rate monitoring devices help caregivers provide accurate, continuous care to patients from the comfort of their homes. This, in turn, helps lower the workload at hospitals by allowing nurses and doctors to prioritize on-site care for the most serious cases.

Another recent study focusing on Canadian healthcare published in The British Medical Journal explains how remote automated monitoring (RAM) efforts such as video calls with nurses and virtually monitoring vital signs can help reduce patient pain and detect drug errors following elective surgeries.

More than one way to nurse from home

Now that we’ve established that remote nursing is a win-win for patients and caregivers alike, you may be wondering exactly what type of positions are available in the field of remote nursing. Luckily, there’s more than just one way to put your nursing expertise to work from the convenience of home.

For example, while remote triage nurses serve as patients’ first point of contact during virtual e-visits with a physician, remote nursing case managers work to ensure all healthcare providers and physicians treating the same patient keep lines of communication open and stay on the same page.

Alternatively, many remote nursing jobs have nothing to do with caring for patients. If taking a break from patient care sounds like it could be right for you, look into positions such as remote nursing educator, legal nursing consultant, and insurance claims nurse. 

Ready to put aside your bedside manner in favor of some screenside manner? Take a look at Ladders’ job search page today and begin browsing remote nursing jobs.