Rise of the Virtual Nurse.

As the process of providing health care becomes increasingly complex and the foundation of the nursing profession changes, nursing leaders will need to think differently about how to support their colleagues more efficiently and effectively. The role of the virtual nurse is expanding as part of the effort to address these complexities and develop innovative solutions. Although more work is necessary to define best practices in the variations of virtual nursing, current examples have had a positive impact on nursing and patient care.

Answering the Call: Impact of Tele-ICU Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has exacerbated staffing challenges already facing critical care nurses in intensive care units. Many intensive care units have been understaffed and the majority of nurses working in these units have little experience.

Objective: To describe how the skilled tele-intensive care unit nurses in our health system quickly changed from a patient-focused strategy to a clinician-focused approach during the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis.