Preparing Nurses for Roles in Telehealth: Now is the Time!
Carolyn Rutledge, Tina Gustin
Abstract
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the method for delivering healthcare changed overnight. Telehealth became a primary method of delivering care. Suddenly, nurses were expected to utilize technology with very little, if any, training in telehealth. All evidence suggests that telehealth is here to stay. As such, it is now time for healthcare providers to reflect on best practices for telehealth, and for nurse educators to ensure that graduates are prepared to function in the new telehealth arena. This article provides an introductory overview of the history of telehealth nursing; uses for telehealth with the COVID-19 pandemic; new awareness of telehealth challenges, and nursing roles. We also discuss sites that require a telehealth nurse and the Four P’s framework for telehealth education.