Over Half of Nursing Jobs Could Be Virtual by 2034, Klahn Says

Virtual nursing positions or those with a virtual component will comprise more than half of all nursing jobs within the next five to ten years, according to AONL member Steve Klahn, MBA, RN, system clinical director for virtual medicine at Houston Methodist. Klahn predicts virtual nursing’s ability to address burnout and shortages will contribute to its explosive growth. Virtual nursing could eliminate contract labor and serve as a flexible scheduling and education tool for novice and tenured nurses. Care delivery models will fully integrate virtual nursing, Klahn says, with remote nurses providing support and collecting patient information. Nurses off site will monitor data on blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rates. (HealthLeaders Media article, 8/21/24)