Hospital Nurses Doubt Virtual Help

Virtual Nurses: A Promising but Unproven Solution

Hospitals are turning to virtual nurses to combat staffing shortages. These digital assistants use video and messaging to monitor patients remotely. However, a recent study suggests that this approach may not be the panacea hospitals hoped for.

Study Findings: Mixed Results

Researchers surveyed 880 nurses across 10 states and discovered:

• Over 50% of nurses reported that virtual nurses do not ease their workload.
• 10% said virtual nurses increased their workload.

While most nurses acknowledged that virtual nurses provide some assistance, only 11% found the help significant.

Expert Recommendations

Experts caution hospitals against over-relying on virtual nurses, citing insufficient evidence of their safety and effectiveness.

The study recommends that hospitals consider hiring more in-person nurses to improve patient care and nurse satisfaction.

Conclusion: In-Person Staffing Still Key

The study highlights that more on-site nurses lead to better outcomes for both patients and staff. Hospitals should weigh these findings when exploring new staffing solutions.