Becoming a telehealth nurse requires a nursing degree, licensure and the skills and experience to deliver quality virtual care. The online nursing programs from St. Thomas University (STU) can help you prepare for advanced and specialized roles in telehealth nursing.
With some nursing roles among the fastest-growing occupations and healthcare facilities rapidly expanding their virtual care services, telehealth nurses are in high demand. Telehealth nurses use video conferencing and digital health platforms to deliver clinical care, support treatment plans and increase access for patients in a variety of practice areas.
What Does a Telehealth Nurse Do?
Telehealth nurses provide clinical care remotely using telecommunications tools, supporting patient health and well-being in more flexible formats than in-person healthcare visits. They use a range of technologies to assess and manage patient care, whether through real-time visits or asynchronous work. There are four main types of telehealth nursing modalities:
- Live video: Thanks to secure video platforms, telehealth nurses can have real-time interactions with patients.
- Mobile health: Telehealth nurses utilize text messaging, app-based chat or phone calls to deliver and manage patient care.
- Remote patient monitoring: Using connected devices with the patient, telehealth nurses analyze health data such as heart rate, blood pressure and glucose levels.
- Store-and-forward: Telehealth nurses receive and assess patient information, such as symptom logs or diagnostic test results, submitted via a secure portal.
Workplaces and Areas of Practice
Telehealth nurses work in various practice areas, including primary and family care, mental health, case management and post-surgery care. Sometimes functioning as an extension of in-person teams, they frequently collaborate with or support physicians, nurse practitioners, specialists, pharmacists and IT workers. Telehealth nurses may also work with patients’ families or caregivers, especially while managing chronic conditions or supporting post-discharge recovery.
Many telehealth nurses work from home or a centralized call center, but remote care needs span a wide range of clinical and non-clinical settings. These include:
- Telehealth-specific service platforms
- Hospitals with virtual care departments
- Outpatient clinics and home health agencies
- Urgent care centers, crisis lines and trauma centers
- Physician offices offering hybrid care
- Insurance companies and managed care organizations
- Community health centers and rural, underserved clinics
- Military and veterans’ health systems
Telehealth Nursing Responsibilities
The specific tasks of a telehealth nurse depend on their role and care setting. However, most positions share the following responsibilities:
- Remote triage and assessments via phone, video or chat
- Symptom and vital sign monitoring using digital health tools and technology
- Medication management and guidance
- Patient health education, including maintenance and preventive care
- Chronic disease management for conditions like diabetes or hypertension
- Appointment scheduling and specialist referral coordination
- Pre-surgery planning and post-discharge support
- Documentation of patient interactions in electronic health records
Essential Skills for Telehealth Nurses
Telehealth nursing blends clinical expertise with technical and soft skills. To provide virtual care, telehealth nurses must develop specialized skills that support safe, accurate and patient-centered service across digital health platforms.
Soft Skills
Without access to visible or physical cues, telehealth nurses must develop a virtual bedside manner that builds rapport and offers support while providing accurate health assessments, regardless of their specific telehealth modality. Balancing emotional intelligence with organizational and analytical abilities, important telehealth nursing soft skills include:
- Clear and concise communication and active listening
- Compassion and empathy
- Cultural responsiveness and tone sensitivity
- Patience and conflict resolution
- Organization and time management
Technical Competencies
Telehealth nurses must be proficient in using various digital tools, since their ability to deliver safe and effective care depends on technology. Core technical competencies include:
- Using telehealth platforms: Conduct secure video conferencing visits, manage session settings and communicate in real-time using HIPAA-compliant conferencing tools
- Accessing and updating electronic health records: Review patient history, document assessments and care plans, and coordinate with providers through integrated digital charting systems
- Working with remote monitoring tools and mobile health apps: Monitor patient data from devices like blood pressure cuffs or glucose monitors, interpret trends and respond to alerts through app-based or cloud platforms
- Maintaining cybersecurity and HIPAA compliance: Protect patient privacy by using secure logins, encrypted tools and approved communication methods
- Troubleshooting connectivity and device issues: Provide basic troubleshooting and guidance for patients during sessions
Clinical Assessment
Virtual care requires telehealth nurses to gather information and assess patients without in-person diagnostic tests. Instead, they rely on targeted questions, visual observation and data from remote monitoring tools. Telehealth nurses should be capable of clinical assessments for both routine and urgent concerns.
Telehealth nurses can evaluate symptoms by analyzing factors such as tone, breathing, medical history and home-recorded vitals or by guiding patients through self-assessments, such as checking for swelling or measuring heart rate. Then, they determine whether a case requires escalation to in-person care or further testing based on clinical judgment and reported details. For example, a telehealth nurse might identify respiratory distress by noting labored speech during a call or abnormal vitals from monitoring tools, then coordinate access to emergency services.
How to Become a Telehealth Nurse
Becoming a telehealth nurse requires accredited post-secondary education, licensure and clinical experience. These steps outline how to enter the telehealth nursing field:
- Earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing: A BSN prepares you with the scientific, ethical and leadership foundation needed for patient care.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN exam: This national licensing exam qualifies you to become a registered nurse.
- Obtain state licensure: Obtain an RN license in your state. If providing cross-state services, research temporary practice laws, state licensure reciprocity or licensure compacts.
- Earn additional certifications: Although optional, some telehealth nurses pursue certifications, like the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification, through organizations such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing.
- Gain clinical experience: Most telehealth nursing roles require at least two years of bedside or in-person experience. Experience in triage, case management or acute care is especially relevant for telehealth.
- Consider a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): An MSN supports career advancement in leadership, education, policy-focused or specialized roles.
Inside the Online Nursing Experience at STU
STU’s flexible learning environments and accelerated pathways are designed to support aspiring telehealth nurses. The RN to BSN online program helps you expand your clinical knowledge and responsive care skills for in-person and telehealth nursing roles.
The Accelerated MSN online program prepares experienced nurses for advanced roles by developing a deeper understanding of pathophysiology, health promotion and pharmacokinetics, while emphasizing ethical leadership and healthcare service. Designed for working nurses, the accelerated track lets you study at your own pace and complete your online degree program in as few as 12 months.
Take the Next Step Toward Becoming a Telehealth Nurse
As healthcare systems continue to expand digital services, telehealth nurses play a vital role in providing effective and accessible health services. STU’s accelerated MSN program can equip you with the clinical knowledge and leadership skills to advance your career and thrive in this evolving field.
Explore STU’s online nursing degree options and find the track that aligns with your goals. Whether you want to pursue an online BSN, MSN, DNP or post-master’s certificate, STU has options for you.
Learn more about ST. Thomas University’s online nursing programs.
