Nursing jobs have changed due to the global pandemic which should be no surprise. Coronavirus has changed just about everything else in our lives, from how we leave the house (in a mask) to how we work (mostly from home) to how we interact (six feet apart or not at all). So it is no surprise that the global pandemic has changed nursing jobs. Nurses and other healthcare workers continue to work throughout the pandemic. As millions of Americans seek medical care, the role of the nurse has shifted to support an increased need for care and a simultaneous need to minimize exposure to the coronavirus. Nurses may find more opportunities to work from home, return to work after a hiatus, or transfer their nursing license from one state to another.
Nursing Via Telehealth
Because the novel coronavirus is highly contagious, many healthcare providers have switched to telehealth whenever possible. The CDC states that “Shifting practices to triaging and assessing ill patients (including those affected by COVID-19 and patients with other conditions) remotely using nurse advice lines, provider “visits” by telephone, text monitoring systems, video conferences, or other telehealth and telemedicine methods can reduce exposure of ill persons with staff and minimize surges on facilities.” Telehealth visits allow patients to receive the care that they need while reducing the risk of coronavirus exposure for all parties: patients, doctors, nurses, and anyone else who works in the office.
What part does a nursing job play in telehealth? Telephone triage nurses have an increasingly important role in assessing patients over the phone during the coronavirus pandemic. Telehealth nurses use specific protocols that guide them in questioning patients over the phone. These nurses are trained to ask patients about their health complaints. They also listen for other cues over the phone, such as shortness of breath or coughing, that may indicate other problems. Telehealth visits can assess patients who may have coronavirus or any other medical problem. Nursing via telehealth relieves the burden on doctor’s offices and emergency rooms.
Transferring a Nursing License
Not all nurses can work from home during this crisis. The increase in patients requiring medical treatment has increased the demand for nurses. In order to meet this demand, some states have changed licensure procedures during the coronavirus pandemic. In the United States, all states, territories, and the District of Columbia have declared a state of emergency. Under a state of emergency, nurses licensed in one state can be fast-tracked for a license in another state. This change makes it easier for nurses who have moved to get a nursing license in their new home state. Another change that many states have implemented is to extend licenses that are about to expire. These changes and implementations are key in the fight against the coronavirus. As patient numbers increase, on site nurses make the difference. They are more concerned about quick, effective triage for their patient, not the dotted lines of licensure. Check with specific states for more information.
Recalling Nurses To The Field
Particularly hard-hit states, such as New York and Arizona, have taken steps to recall retired nurses and traveling nurses. Some hospitals are operating at or near capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients continue to come in with heart attacks, pneumonia, and other ailments. Their current staffing levels are insufficient to care for these patients plus the COVID-19 patients. The nursing shortage provides a good opportunity for nurses considering returning to work after time off from nursing. Patients with or without COVID receive the care they need under veteran attention. Newer or currently active nurses will find insightful experiences with nurses whose depth of treatment knowledge extends years, even decades back into their industry. As vaccines and boosters become more and more vital to administer, these retired nurses can bump up the number of boots needed on the ground to further the fight against COVID.
Have you been looking for “nursing jobs near me”? If so, CynaMed can help you find great nursing jobs. Whether you are interested in a temporary, part-time, or full-time nursing job, we can place you in the right position.
