Study: Virtual nursing needs standardized reporting, rigorous evaluation

Although virtual nursing shows promise for addressing workforce challenges, standardized reporting of staffing models, role definitions and outcomes metrics are essential to inform best practices and policy development, states an article published in the April issue of the Journal of Nursing Administration. The authors conducted a systematic mapping review of virtual nursing research in adult inpatient settings. In their analysis of nine studies, they found significant variation in implementation strategies, roles, team structures and reported outcomes. They say early evidence indicates virtual nursing may improve efficiency, reduce turnover and enhance nurse and patient satisfaction, but reporting inconsistences and limited outcome data related to cost and sustainability highlight the need for rigorous evaluation, long-term outcome tracking and comparative analyses across diverse settings.