4 ways virtual nursing can transform nurse care teams from burnout to breakthrough
Nurses are the heart of healthcare delivery. Their role involves far more than bedside care. They manage patient assessments, administer treatments, monitor data, collaborate with specialists, and handle administrative tasks, all while providing compassion and advocating for patients. Yet, the increasing workload, along with rising rates of chronic conditions and an aging population with more care needs, is leading to an alarming rate of burnout.
The growing crisis in nursing
Recent data highlights the challenges nurses face today:
Burnout and stress: 56% of nurses report feeling emotionally exhausted and nearly 65% blame job-related stress.
An ongoing shortage: By 2025, the U.S. could face a shortfall of over 78,600 full-time RNs, and a shortage of more than 63,700 by 2030.
Early departures: More than 40% of nurses plan to leave the profession within two years, with many transitioning to administrative roles after only a few years in bedside care.
Limited education capacity: Over 65,000 qualified students were turned away from nursing schools in 2023 due to restrictions on educators, budgets, and training facilities.
The nursing shortage threatens the quality and accessibility of care, especially as the aging population grows and chronic health conditions rise.
The nursing shortage threatens the quality and accessibility of care, especially as the aging population grows and chronic health conditions rise.
The Amwell Virtual Nursing solution offers an innovative way to support nurses, empowering them to focus on what they do best: providing exceptional patient care. Consider the benefits below as you look to gain executive buy-in for a virtual nursing program:
1. Enhanced care team coordination
Nurses are central to care teams, ensuring seamless communication between specialists, social workers, therapists, and other providers. Virtual nursing technology streamlines care coordination by enabling remote collaboration, breaking down geographic and logistical barriers. The outcome? Care plans stay aligned and shift changes and hand-offs flow smoothly across the system.
2. Reduced administrative burden
Administrative tasks, such as managing admissions and discharge paperwork, often pull nurses away from patient care. Virtual nurses help offload these responsibilities, giving bedside nurses more time to focus on their patients. This not only optimizes workflows but also provides essential relief to under-resourced nursing teams.
3. Virtual rounding for better time management
Traditional bedside rounding demands significant time and resources. Virtual rounding enables nurses to check in with lower-risk patients remotely, allowing bedside teams to dedicate more attention to complex or high-risk cases. A study published in the Journal of Nursing Administration found that virtual nurses coordinating patient education and discharges enhances satisfaction among patients and nurses while reducing adverse outcomes and clinician turnover.
4. Remote mentorship and knowledge transfer
The mentorship of younger nurses is key to maintaining care quality and safety, but it often adds strain to experienced staff. Virtual nursing bridges this gap by facilitating remote mentorship, transferring knowledge and reinforcing best practices with early-career nurses.
One of the great things about mentorship is that the mentee is not the only one benefiting from the relationship. For example, an Amwell health system client in Georgia shared how an experienced nurse was able to extend her career by virtually mentoring younger nurses, achieving both professional fulfillment and a better work-life balance.
Dive deeper into the Amwell Virtual Nursing solution here
Building a sustainable future
While launching virtual nursing technology requires investment, innovative partnerships and federal grants can ease the financial burden. One Amwell client in Georgia collaborated with a local nursing school to fund its virtual nursing program. This partnership paired nursing students with virtual mentors, providing hands-on training while addressing workforce gaps. The creative approach to funding enabled the health system to launch virtual care technology across their system as well.
It’s time for healthcare leaders to think beyond traditional solutions to address today’s nursing challenges. Virtual nursing redefines what it means to support nurses. Virtual nurses offer a scalable, effective way to support frontline nurses, empower upcoming generations, and improve overall patient care. With the right tools and partnerships, we can steer nursing from burnout to breakthrough and recharge the heart of our healthcare system.
Take the next step
Discover how virtual nursing can transform your organization. Get in touch with our team at contactus@amwell.com to learn more about implementing these innovative solutions today.