Virtual nursing evaluation should focus on small, measurable actions

Health systems should identify specific key performance indicators to evaluate the success of a virtual nursing program and select small, measurable actions instead of large concepts, according to a Medical University of South Carolina administrator. Emily Warr, MSN, RN, administrator for the Center of Telehealth at MUSC, says focusing on a single factor, such as how communication between nurses affects admissions or discharge times, is a more effective way of measuring value than broadly measuring whether virtual nursing reduces time spent on admissions and discharge, since many factors affect that metric. MUSC, Charleston, started evaluating specific, task-oriented items after an initial study of its virtual nursing program for mentoring novice nurses failed to demonstrate a return on investment. (HealthLeaders Media article, 5/7/24)