6 Transition Tactics to Help Guarantee Success in Telehealth
You’ve decided to make the switch to life as a telemedicine nurse practitioner from your current ‘traditional’ job in healthcare. With no travel to and from work, hours to suit you, and an average salary of between $127,000 and $148,000 (Salary.com), you’ve made a wise choice.
Working telehealth jobs provides you the opportunity to improve your work/life balance, treat different people who are suffering from many different conditions, and improve your knowledge and experience.
However, while telehealth jobs share many of the same characteristics as the job you currently have, there are some differences. You’ll need to be prepared for these to make a smooth transition. Here are six tactics to help you do this.
1. Get Licensed Where You Intend to Work
As a telehealth nurse practitioner, you can work anywhere – but you’ll need to get your nurse practitioner licenses for the states in which you will be ‘visiting’ your patients. Make sure you know which states you wish to practice in, and get your licenses to be able to do so.
2. Set Up Your Workspace
You’ll need a dedicated workspace at home. One where you won’t be disturbed, with a professional ‘backdrop’ – a room that is uncluttered and decorated in neutral colors will help patients to get into the right frame of mind for your consultation.
Natural light, a good-quality internet connection, and good ventilation are necessities of a good workspace.
3. Develop a Webside Manner
The first and, perhaps, the largest change that you’ll need to get used to is the method of caring for your patients. You’ve developed a cracking bedside manner. Now you need to take those skills and develop a webside manner with new virtual skills.
Equip your workspace with the best equipment you can afford and set up your camera and microphone so the patient can see and hear you clearly. Then follow these steps to conduct the perfect virtual consultation:
- Be prepared for your patient (review notes)
- Prepare the patient (let them know what to expect)
- Follow consultation protocol (as set out by the telehealth provider)
- Be engaging and stay engaged (maintain eye contact and let the patient know what you are doing)
- Wrap up with an explanation (let the patient know what happens next)
You can read more in our article ‘Skills for Telehealth Jobs: How to Conduct the Perfect Virtual Consultation’.
4. Be Prepared for the Challenges of Working Virtually
A study published in 2018 highlighted the unique challenges of working virtually in telehealth. These include:
- The difficulty of diagnosing remotely, with no physical examination possible
- Not knowing your patients personally
- Working on your own
- The workload, moving swiftly from one patient to the next
- Issues with technology
Of course, all jobs have their challenges. Being forewarned, you will be forearmed. You will be able to develop your own strategies to mitigate these challenges, and learn from the advice of others. Read our article ‘What Are a Telehealth Physician’s Biggest Virtual-Working Challenges?’ to discover some tactics to help you overcome these challenges and enjoy your career transition.
5. Join Supportive Telehealth Organizations
As a member of professional organizations, you can access the advice and guidance of others within the telehealth sector.
The American Telemedicine Association, for example, offers you the opportunity to network, learn from the latest telehealth research, and participate in industry commentary.
6. Stay Sane!
Finally, you’ll be working on your own. While support is readily available online or by phone, don’t underestimate the sanity value of staying connected with your colleagues, friends, and family. Get out and socialize. Make time for a virtual chat with a colleague. When your working day is done, close your office door and relax.
Summing Up
As a telemedicine nurse practitioner, you can take back control of your life. You’ll be able to work in different states to maximize your earnings, while benefitting from an improved work/life balance. However, making the transition to telehealth jobs comes with challenges.
You’ll be using new skills to augment you nursing ability. You must learn to conduct virtual consultations effectively – without the benefit of body language. And you’ll need to create your own work routine and tactics to stay sane through the hours of working alone. Do all this, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t take advantage of all the benefits of life as a telemedicine nurse practitioner.
To join the tens of thousands who have already made the transition to a new job in telehealth successfully, start by reviewing the job vacancies in the telehealth sector.
