Document Type

Course Project

Publication Date

7-18-2024

Abstract

The Nation is experiencing the worse nursing shortage in its current history. Moreover, novice RNs that replace experienced RNs do not possess the experiential knowledge to identify subtle indicators of patient deterioration, leading to higher mortality rates in the hospital. New to practice RNs struggle with time management, organization and prioritization, competence, stress management, and confidence. Virtua Health leaders identified the risks associated with inadequate nursing staffing, level of RN experience, and the additional support required for increasing the nursing workforce with newer to practice RNs. This Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP project evaluated the outcomes of the Virtual Nurse Pilot program on a medical-surgical unit. Experienced Virtual Nurses partnered with less experienced bedside nurses to provide comprehensive safe care to their patients. The project used a before and after design and measured nursing quality outcomes, RN satisfaction, and patient satisfaction with nursing communication to determine if the pilot produced a positive effect for patients and RNs. Weekly Virtual Nurse Pilot quality and safety meetings were conducted via a Microsoft video conferencing tool (Teams) with steering committee RNs and nurse leaders during the pilot quality improvement project, which addressed concerns about operational processes such as most effective modes of communication and efficiency of certain virtual tasks that resulted in modifications made in real-time. Results of nursing quality indicators, RN satisfaction, and patient satisfaction with communication did not demonstrate any statistically significant improvements, however, average length of stay showed a 0.53-day reduction from before and after data collected. Virtua Health is in the process of expanding the pilot to all medical-surgical units in two divisions within the year. Plans are to end the pilot project in 2025, and transition Virtual Nursing as the Nursing Care model practiced on all medical-surgical units.

Language

English

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Included in

Nursing Commons

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