Leadership critical to virtual nursing’s success, study finds

A Journal of Nursing Administration study found strong nursing leadership contributed to a hospital-wide virtual nursing program’s success in improving workflow efficiency and enhancing operational outcomes. AONL member and lead author Ashley Carlucci, DNP, RN, CNE, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, and her former colleagues at University Hospitals, Cleveland, conducted a mixed-methods quality improvement study to assess the impact of implementing virtual nursing care at University Hospitals. Virtual nursing strengthened teamwork, improved operational efficiencies and supported patient safety, including reduced falls, without increasing staffing costs. The authors encourage close leadership involvement to align innovations with clinical priorities and build sustainable models. Leaders should enable nurses to explore virtual nursing, test what works and determine how virtual roles best fit into existing care processes before formalizing workflows.