How to Become a Telehealth Nurse

Telehealth nursing utilizes technology, specifically video conferencing, to deliver nursing care to remote locations that may not otherwise have access to medical care. Although this field gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's remained popular as a convenient and accessible way to get healthcare.

This guide will discuss how to enter telehealth nursing, from its education requirements to salary, career outlook, and more. Read on to learn how to become a telehealth nurse.

Telehealth nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who use telecommunication technology such as video, phone, email, and messaging to provide high-quality care to patients. This is extremely important for those who need highly specialized care and do not have access to specialists.

Telehealth nurses often help patients with minor health problems and can help determine whether they need to seek emergency care, make an in-person appointment with a physician, or be treated without further guidance. Telehealth nursing is beneficial not only to the patients but also to the healthcare system. 

Telehealth nursing, telehealth, and nursing telepractice are all interchangeable terms. According to the American Telehealth Association, telehealth nursing is a tool for delivering nursing care remotely to improve efficiency and patient access to healthcare.

Telehealth nurses have a variety of job responsibilities. These will vary depending on the job location and specialty. These responsibilities may include:

• Scheduling appointments and referring patients to specialists
• Assisting and consulting with patients over the phone or via video chat services
• Educating patients on different ways to manage their symptoms
• Monitoring patient’s oxygen levels, health rate, respiration, and blood glucose
• Pre-surgical and post-surgical care  
• Assisting doctors in reducing patient load
• Providing medical advice for patients with minor health issues
• Supporting medical response teams in bringing patients into the hospital

Where Can Telehealth Nurses Work?

Telehealth nurses can work in a variety of settings. Generally, they work from home or in a telephone triage center. Depending on the specialization, telehealth nurses may also work in the following locations:

• Physician's offices
• Hospitals
• Trauma centers
• Crisis hotlines
• Outpatient care facilities
• Poison control centers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for a registered nurse in 2023 is $86,070 per year or $41.38 per hour, but conditions in your area may vary. While they don't report on telehealth nurse salaries specifically, Glassdoor reports an average salary of $105,313 for Telehealth RNs, and according to ZipRecruiter, Telehealth RNs can earn an average annual salary of $74,017. 

Telehealth Nurse Salary by Years of Experience

Specifically, Telehealth RNs can earn a higher annual salary with increased years of experience. According to Payscale, the following years of service can earn:

• 1-4 years of experience earn $53,500 annually or $33.10 per hour
• 5-9 years of experience earns $80,749 annually or $30.81 per hour
• 10-19 years of experience earn $62,000 annually or $29.49 per hour
• 20+ years of experience earns $110,993 annually or $41.17 per hour

As with all nursing jobs, earning potential increases with additional education and experience. Nurses typically receive a raise during annual employee performance reviews, and certifications can give them an additional bump in their paycheck.

Telehealth Nurse Benefits

Regardless of workplace setting, full-time and part-time nurses enjoy similar benefits. While actual benefits may vary depending on the institution, most include the following:

• Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• CEU & Certification Reimbursement      
• Retirement Options
• Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays
• Family Leave of Absence
• Maternity Leave
• Dependent Insurance Coverage
• Relocation Assistance
• Bereavement Leave
• Discounts on Services & Activities
• Nursing Conference Attendance

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To become a telehealth nurse, you’ll need to complete the following steps:

Step 1: Attend Nursing School

The first step to becoming a telehealth nurse is attending an accredited nursing program. You'll need to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to become a registered nurse.

ADN-prepared nurses will need to complete an additional step of either completing their BSN degree or entering into an accelerated RN to MSN program which will let them earn their BSN and MSN simultaneously.

Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN

Once you graduate from an accredited nursing program, you can sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). If you pass the exam, you can apply for RN licensure in your state.

Step 3: Gain Experience at the Bedside

Bedside experience is essential before transitioning into a telehealth nurse position. Most companies will want several years of bedside experience before this.

Step 4: Earn your certification

There is no specific certification for telehealth nursing; however, because telehealth nurses provide nursing care to patients in ambulatory care settings, they are required to possess the knowledge and competencies to do so. For this reason, telehealth nurses often earn the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (RN-BC).

Offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, this exam is ideal for nurses looking for advanced certification.

RN-BC Certification Requirements

• Hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or hold the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country
• Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years full-time as a registered nurse.
• Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in ambulatory care and/or telehealth nursing within the last 3 years.
• Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in ambulatory care and/or telehealth nursing within the last 3 years.

Telehealth nurses have the same nursing continuing education requirements as all practicing RNs. Each state sets its own standards for RN license renewal. In most cases, you'll complete a set amount of continuing education units (CEUs), submit an application, and pay a nominal fee.

You'll have an additional set of requirements if you pursue the RN-BC certification. Every five years, you must complete the following requirements to maintain this credential, per the ANCC:

• Hold an active, unencumbered RN license (or equivalent from another country)
• Complete 75 CEUs as described on page 9 of the ANCC renewal handbook
• Complete at least one of the eight certification renewal categories in its entirety:
  • Contuing Education Hours
  • Academic Credits
  • Presentations
  • Evidence-Based Practice, Quality Improvement, Publication, or Research
  • Preceptor Hours
  • Professional Service
  • Practice Hours
  • Test or Portfolio
•  Pay the renewal fee

According to the BLS, the job growth for nurses is expected to increase by 6% by 2032. With the aging population, this number is expected to be even higher.

Telenursing jobs are quickly growing and evolving. In fact, the global telehealth market is projected to reach $285.7 billion by 2027. According to the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), half of all hospitals in the U.S. offer some form of telemedicine, while 90% of healthcare executives say they are developing or implementing a telehealth program.

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Nurse.org has some great resources on telehealth nursing, including:

• 6 Telehealth Jobs For Nurses
• Remote Jobs For Nurses Spike as Telehealth Becomes More Normal

Additional Resources

• American Nurses Association (ANA)
• American Telemedicine Association
• American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
• International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth

Telehealth nursing is an interesting and dynamic field. It allows nurses to have autonomy while still delivering high-quality nursing care. Telehealth helps patients who would otherwise need to travel long distances to see medical professionals. 

• How Much do Telehealth Nurses Make?

  • Glassdoor.com reports an average salary of $105,341 per year for Telehealth RNs.

• How do I Become a Certified Telehealth Nurse?

  • There is currently no specific certification for telehealth nursing but the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (RN-BC) is often obtained by telehealth nurses.

• What Qualifies as Teleahealth?

  • Telehealth includes live video conferencing, mobile health applications, and remote patient monitoring. Technology such as video, telephone, and email are utilized during telehealth. 

 

$70,000 - $90,000 Telehealth Associate Bachelors Non-Bedside RN