Nurses have demanding jobs. This has been especially true amidst the pandemic, throughout which they have been fighting on the front lines. The American Nurses Foundation even reported that 42% of nurses had experienced trauma because of Covid, and 50% say they’ve considered resigning. The specific factors that contribute to these troubling developments include stress and burnout, along with extended working hours.
Fortunately, nurses can choose to work remotely, as some now do in the telehealth industry. Today, digital information and communication technologies can be used to provide and maintain healthcare. Accordingly, nurses are able to keep performing their duties while avoiding the strain and fatigue that comes with working in the hospital.
Below, we’ll look at benefits, options, and some information about getting started for nurses interested in telehealth.
Benefits of remote work for nurses
Greater savings
Working from home saves money and time. There is no need to deal with daily commutes, expensive food from outside establishments, and other burdens of working on-site. Rather, nurses who choose to work remotely typically do so from the comfort of their own homes. Of course, even if you take this route, you may still be required on-site from time to time if the institution is short-staffed or if a given patient needs a physical hand. Still, the majority of your work will be done virtually through video conferencing tools, remote patient monitoring software, and mobile health apps.
Improved mental and physical health
Being a nurse is a stressful and tiring job. News site The Atlantic has made a habit of sharing stories from healthcare workers, including nurses that reveal just how physically and mentally demanding it is to work in a hospital nowadays. They describe witnessing suffering, working long hours, and concerns about exposure to different diseases, among other factors. By contrast, a remote job will allow you to work from home, reducing the factors that can directly damage your health (or mental and emotional wellness).
Flexible work hours
Remote work often entails flexible hours, and this is the case for nurses as well. As mentioned, many nurses have to deal with extended working hours in the hospital. Lots of remote nursing jobs, however, operate from 7 AM to 4 PM; others may mandate that you be on-call 24 hours, but even then, you’re not required to be working all of that time. This allows you more opportunities for responsibilities and matters outside work –– such as spending time with family and indulging in hobbies.
Remote nursing jobs
As you’re likely well aware, if you’re a working nurse or you’re looking into a career, there are a lot of specific jobs and roles within the profession. The following are among the ones that are being associated more commonly with remote work:
- Call center nurse
- Nurse practitioner
- Telephone triage nurse
- RN case manager
- Informatics nurse
- Home health care LPN/RN
- Field assessment nurse
How to get started
The first step to obtaining a remote nursing job is to search for openings. Find a telehealth platform that can help you get a nursing contract or a hospital with an option to practice remotely (though, again, there can be some on-site work requirements). Ideally, you want to apply for a job not too far from home. To that end, Wheel provides nurse practitioner jobs in Ohio and other states. Treatment areas and specializations are also provided so that you can find a position that matches your skillset. Some examples of treatment areas include UTIs, acne, birth control, and behavioral health.
Research the available companies to know what type of health services and treatments they provide. This way, you’ll be aware of the types of care you’re expected to offer. Check the jobs that require specific licenses to ensure you are qualified before sending in your application. Then, look over the operating hours for the facility or company in question to confirm which would be suitable for you.
There are many benefits to working remotely as a nurse –– such as a work-from-home setting, flexible hours, and improved health. On top of all that, the telehealth industry has also come a long way in extending health services to more people through digital means. Here at Insights Care, we advocate for everyone’s right to receive healthcare and support the emergence of more telehealth options for nurses as a crucial aspect of expanding care.
