The rise of virtual nursing: How digital care innovations can address nursing shortages and improve the care experience

Nurses across the nation are feeling the post-COVID strain of smaller care teams, larger patient caseloads and cumbersome administrative workflows taking them away from bedside care, resulting in burnout and increased vacancies. The national vacancy rate for nurses in 2022 was 17%, with over 81% of hospitals reporting vacancy rates over 10%.

Healthcare has seen an increase in the adoption of hybrid care, and these strategies can be used to mitigate the strain felt by nursing shortages. Hybrid care approaches that incorporate automated care programs and virtual visits can not only address nursing shortages, but improve the care experience for both clinicians and patients.