Pilot study underscores benefits of virtual nursing for discharge

A virtual nursing pilot program focused on discharge and patient education increased patient and nurse satisfaction while reducing turnover and adverse events, according to a Journal of Nursing Administration study. During the six-month pilot on a 45-bed unit at Baycare Health System in Clearwater, Fla., the virtual nurse completed 1,375 tasks, including patient admissions, discharges, patient education and follow-up discharge phone calls, enabling the bedside nurse to spend more time with patients. In a post-pilot survey, bedside nurses said the virtual nurse saved an average of more than two hours of administrative tasks per shift. The pilot unit reduced voluntary RN turnover by 5.6%, falling from 17.8% to 12.2% in one year, outperforming the system’s benchmarks. Patient satisfaction scores also improved. BayCare will expand the model.