What types of trainings would be beneficial in obtaining a Telehealth Nursing position from home? I have one year of experience with Telehealth but am unable to lift patient’s any longer due to a medical issue. I have 28 years of experience.
I am sorry to hear that your medical issue is impacting your practice. On the plus side, you have a year of experience. That counts!
Being a great telehealth RN requires a blend of clinical expertise, technical skills, and strong interpersonal abilities. Here are the key skills and attributes necessary for success in this role:
Clinical Expertise:
1. Assessment Skills: The ability to accurately assess patients remotely using verbal descriptions, video observations, and patient-reported data. You’ve been doing telehealth for a year already so you likely have these skills.
2. Critical Thinking: Quick decision-making and the ability to prioritize care based on limited information are essential. When you have your job interview, be prepared to demonstrate this with an example.
3. Knowledge of Chronic and Acute Conditions: Familiarity with managing common conditions, including chronic illnesses like diabetes or COPD, as well as acute symptoms that can make chronic conditions worse. Demonstrate your recent continuing education in chronic diseases and their management.
Communication Skills
4. Strong Verbal Communication: The ability to explain medical concepts clearly and empathetically over the phone or video is vital. Your job interview will showcase this.
5. Active Listening: Listening carefully to patient concerns without physical cues helps ensure nothing is overlooked. You will likely demonstrate this during your interview.
6. Cultural Competence: Understanding and respecting diverse cultural backgrounds enhances patient engagement. If you haven’t done so yet, take some courses in cultural competency and humility. Then show that you obtained the CEUs for this. Lastly, during your interview, share examples of how you try to be culturally sensitive.
7. HIPAA: During your interview, be careful with how much PPI you share. You can let the interviewer know that you are curating what you share. This will demonstrate your understanding of HIPAA rules.
8. Having a calm, clear voice helps as well. Older adult patients are complaining that young people speak too fast. Adjust your speech to your client's needs. Take a course in communication skills, especially focusing on older adults who have have hearing deficits.
9. Motivational Interviewing (MI): This is essential if you have going to work with individuals with chronic diseases. Take a few courses in MI. A few courses barely scratch the surface, and yet, they show you understand how important MI is to telehealth.
I hope this helps. You already come to table with lots of skills and can easily hone the rest. May 2025 be a great year for you.