The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of virtual care, fundamentally transforming how healthcare services are delivered. Nurses, with their extensive expertise and adaptability, have been at the forefront of this transition. A recent scoping review titled Nursing contributions to virtual models of care in primary care: a scoping review protocol delves into the pivotal role of nurses in virtual primary care. This blog explores how practitioners can leverage these insights to improve their skills and encourage further research in this emerging field.
The Importance of Nursing in Virtual Care
Virtual care, defined as any remote interaction between patients and healthcare providers using communication technologies, has become essential in primary care. Nurses, including nurse practitioners (NPs), registered nurses (RNs), and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), have demonstrated their ability to adapt and deliver quality care through virtual modalities. The scoping review identifies three primary objectives:
- Describe the attributes of virtual models of care within primary care settings that involve nurses (structure).
- Outline the nursing roles carried out through virtual delivery in comparison to in-person settings (process).
- Identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation of virtual models of care involving nurses.
Key Findings and Implications
The review highlights several key findings that can help practitioners enhance their virtual care delivery:
- Role Clarity: Understanding the specific roles and responsibilities of nurses in virtual care is crucial. This includes independent roles, dependent roles requiring physician orders, and interdependent roles involving collaboration with other healthcare providers.
- Training and Support: Continuous training and support for nurses in using virtual care technologies are essential. This ensures they can effectively navigate digital platforms and provide high-quality care.
- Technology Access: Addressing barriers such as limited access to technology and low levels of technical literacy among patients is vital for the success of virtual care models.
Encouraging Further Research
While the scoping review provides valuable insights, it also underscores the need for further research to optimize nursing contributions in virtual care. Practitioners are encouraged to:
- Engage in ongoing education and training on virtual care technologies.
- Participate in research initiatives to explore new models of virtual care.
- Advocate for policies that support the integration of nurses in virtual care settings.
By embracing these recommendations, practitioners can enhance their skills and contribute to the evolving landscape of virtual primary care.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Nursing contributions to virtual models of care in primary care: a scoping review protocol.
