How Nurses Can Support COVID-19 Efforts From Home

“Telehealth” has become one of the biggest buzzwords of the COVID-19 pandemic. As coronavirus sweeps through the country and citizens are ordered to stay home, many facets of healthcare are being abruptly forced to go virtual in order to meet patients and providers in their homes. 

The demand has surged not only for routine outpatient visits that can no longer be carried out in the office, but also for COVID-19 assessments and support that can be done virtually to reduce further burden on the brick-and-mortar healthcare system.

Patients are needing support, guidance, and access to healthcare now more than ever, but restrictive physical barriers to access have ushered in the demand for remote nurses, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals to bridge this gap and connect patients to the care they need.

In addition to the benefits for patients, remote work options and remote positions have also presented alternative opportunities for nurses to support COVID-19 efforts even if they cannot participate directly at the bedside. Remote work experience can also improve marketability for securing future remote opportunities beyond the pandemic!

Job listings for COVID-19 nurses have exponentially grown in the past couple of weeks. Because of this, it’s important to perform quality searches that catch hidden work-from-home opportunities. 

When searching on job boards, enter your keywords and leave the location blank to view nationwide opportunities. Some searches can include just your state (not city) to find remote opportunities available locally. I’ve done a lot of the work for you here and have a live list of remote and telehealth COVID-19 jobs for nurses, NPs, and PAs.
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Different Types of COVID-19 Remote Nursing Jobs

Telephone Triage

Companies are hiring virtual nurses to answer calls from patients, triage their symptoms, and refer them to the appropriate level of care. These telephonic services relieve the burden on Physician Offices, Urgent Care Facilities, and Emergency Departments, allowing them to conserve resources for higher acuity patients.

Most Telephonic Triage nurse positions require licensure as a Registered nurse (RN) in at least one U.S. state. Compact licensure is highly desirable. With the temporary lenience of state licensing restrictions during the pandemic, opportunities may exist to practice across state borders. Triage companies prefer those with experience in the Emergency Department, Urgent Care, or Primary Care setting. nurses will need a quiet, private space with high-speed internet and the ability to work a variety of shifts, including nights and weekends.
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Telemedicine Visits

Remote nurse practitioners are needed to conduct virtual video calls with patients to assess healthcare needs, make referrals, and write prescriptions. Some companies serve a variety of states, while others work with individual states. This will determine state licensing requirements for the particular role, although companies may be open to a variety of state licenses during the pandemic.

Telemedicine positions require an active nurse practitioner license and generally require 2+ years clinical experience. Companies may or may not provide a supervising physician (if required) and liability insurance. A quiet, private space equipped with high-speed internet is necessary. Visits are conducted via teleconferencing platforms, requiring a camera and microphone setup.
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Occupational Health

Opportunities have become available for remote Occupational Health nurses to monitor and track COVID-19 cases for employees within organizations. These positions involve telephonic outreach and follow up but may require minimal on-site presence. Most require experience in occupational health, and these positions may be location-dependent.
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At-Home Screening Test Monitoring

Some companies are even hiring nurses and nurse practitioners to video monitor patients during self-collection of COVID-19 home swab tests! Videos take around 10 minutes and they are paid per visit.‍
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One thing is clear: telehealth is the future, and the future is now. ‍

Unfortunately, it took a pandemic to make this more apparent to most, but nurses and nurse practitioners are well positioned to push healthcare into a new era, starting with the transformative potential of this pandemic.
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Looking for Other Ways to Help During COVID-19?

• Have you ever considered travel nursing? These opportunities are on fire right now! Check out Trusted Health’s COVID-19 Jobs Page.
• Pick up shifts at COVID-19 Screening Clinics in your local area.
• Do you know someone who is elderly or immunocompromised? Pick up their groceries, prescriptions, or run other errands that may pose a risk of public exposure.
• Do you know someone on the front lines? Offer to care for their children, assist with homeschooling, watch their pets, or clean their house.
• Do you know someone who lost their job? Send them a grocery gift card, purchase household goods, or drop off a delicious meal.
• Own a business? Offer services free of charge to those in need or donate proceeds to an organization helping to support COVID-19.

Whether it be at the hospital, a home office, or simply a neighbor’s doorstep, many opportunities exist for healthcare professionals to offer support during the COVID-19 crisis. This will be a moment in time that we remember forever, and we can each find our own way to support each other during this global experience.
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Or Maybe You Want Another Job at the Bedside?

We can help! Create a free Trusted profile to see which travel nursing jobs are in highest demand now.