Virtual Nursing

Virtual nursing is the ability to provide nursing services through an electronic platform. Nurses provide a variety of virtual tasks while assessing, planning and evaluating patient outcomes. They are also able to help intervene in patient care as appropriate. They provide support to bedside nurses by helping monitor patient vitals, answering call lights and assisting with medication verification.

On May 14, 2024, the Virtual Nurse program was implemented on Lakeside 50, an adult medical surgical unit, at UH Cleveland Medical Center.

Key responsibilities of the virtual nurse:

• Daily Safety Huddle participation: Virtual nurses join the daily safety huddle with clinical staff via two-way audio-video technology. This huddle allows for clear communication of responsibilities and provides an opportunity for staff to request additional care or support from the virtual nurse.
• Discharge Support: Virtual nurses focus on patients with discharge orders or those anticipated to be discharged. They review care plans and discharge orders in advance to ensure thorough preparation. Before virtually entering a patient’s room to perform the discharge, they confirm all necessary documentation and patient education.