Virtual nursing has emerged as a transformative approach in healthcare, offering support to on-site nurses and enhancing patient outcomes. By leveraging technology like cameras, microphones, and sensors, virtual nurses or registered nurses working remotely and leveraging technology can integrate seamlessly into care teams to address critical challenges in modern healthcare. Among its many applications, five key use cases have become central to its success in inpatient care: 

1. Streamlining Admission and Discharge Documentation

Admission and discharge processes can be time-intensive, often pulling on-site nurses away from bedside care. Virtual nurses play a pivotal role in efficiently managing documentation. 

• Admission Documentation: Virtual nurses gather comprehensive patient histories, input critical data, and ensure all details align with care plans. This frees on-site nurses to focus on immediate patient needs. 
• Discharge Documentation: Virtual nurses ensure accurate, timely paperwork, minimizing errors and delays in patient discharge. Their focused involvement also supports smoother transitions, helping reduce readmission rates and improve patient understanding. 

2. Enhancing Medication Reconciliation

Medication errors are a significant safety concern, particularly during care transitions. Virtual nurses specialize in reviewing and reconciling patient medications at admission and discharge, ensuring continuity of care, preventing discrepancies, and improving accuracy for patients who continue medication regimens at home. 

• Patients benefit from clear communication about their medications. 
• HCAHPS scores improve, particularly regarding medication understanding and nurse communication questions. 

3. Providing Comprehensive Patient Education

Effective patient education is critical for improving outcomes and satisfaction. Virtual nurses offer personalized, uninterrupted education sessions covering topics such as: 

• Post-discharge instructions 
• Medication usage and side effects 
• Disease management strategies 
• Virtual nurses ensure patients leave the hospital fully informed, improving adherence to care plans and reducing readmissions. 

4. Supporting Dual Nurse Verification for High-Risk Medications and Skin Assessments

Specific clinical tasks require additional oversight, such as administering high-risk medications or assisting with admission skin assessments. Virtual nurses provide: 

• Dual Verification: As a second set of eyes, virtual nurses ensure compliance with safety protocols while administering high-risk medications or blood products. 
• Support with Skin Assessments: Virtual nurses collaborate with bedside nurses to conduct thorough collaborative admission skin assessments, reducing the likelihood of missed injuries or pressure ulcers. 

5. “Preceptor on Demand” for New Graduate Nurses

New graduate nurses may desire additional guidance as they transition into clinical roles. Virtual nurses serve as accessible preceptors, offering real-time support for: 

• Problem-solving and critical thinking. 
• Troubleshooting clinical challenges. 
• Assisting with clinical tasks like documentation and medication verification. 
• This on-demand mentorship may be less intimidating and enhances the confidence and competence of new nurses, fostering a supportive environment that reduces turnover. 

Virtual Nursing: A Catalyst for Transformation 

While virtual nursing doesn’t replace hands-on care or solve every operational challenge, its integration into care teams provides significant benefits, including: 

• Enhanced patient safety and satisfaction through dedicated monitoring and education. 
• Improved nurse satisfaction and retention by alleviating workload and offering real-time support. 
• Optimized operational efficiency by streamlining documentation and ensuring clinical compliance. 

Virtual nursing represents a forward-thinking solution to many inpatient care challenges, empowering patients and healthcare professionals. As hospitals continue to innovate, these five use cases highlight how virtual nursing can transform the care experience.