The COVID-19 pandemic has indelibly reshaped the landscape of healthcare, leading to enduring shifts in nursing practices and patient care approaches. As healthcare systems adapt to the ongoing effects of the pandemic and emerging variants, several innovations introduced during the crisis are becoming permanent fixtures in routine care. Nurses can anticipate the continued prevalence of team-based care models, remote patient monitoring, telehealth, adjustments in hospital acuity levels, and mandatory vaccination policies. For nurses considering advanced roles, understanding these changes is crucial, especially for those specializing in acute care and exploring online programs like the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) programs at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), often discussed within professional communities such as Allnurses.
Team-Based Care Models
The surge in COVID-19 cases compelled numerous hospitals, including institutions like New York Presbyterian, to adopt innovative care delivery models centered on integrated team staffing. This team-based approach is poised to remain essential, largely due to persistent nurse shortages that challenge total patient care models. These models emphasize “rich skill mixes” within diverse teams.
In this evolving paradigm, experienced providers transition into more of an “oversight” capacity, distributing their expertise across a broader patient base. The team leader is designated based on the most pertinent skill set required for the patients under care, rather than solely on educational attainment or credentials. This leader then guides a multidisciplinary team with clearly defined roles, ensuring cohesive functionality focused on patient well-being. Effective implementation of this care model hinges on maximizing the diverse skill sets of nursing staff and fostering transparent, open communication within the team.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), also known as remote physiologic monitoring, empowers healthcare teams to gather patient health data from their homes. This proactive strategy facilitates preventive care and curtails hospital readmissions, thereby alleviating strain on the healthcare system. Commonly utilized RPM devices encompass blood pressure monitors, electrocardiograms, weight scales, blood glucose meters, and incentive spirometers, which furnish crucial data for assessment, interventions, and the ongoing evaluation of various chronic conditions.
These technologies enhance patient agency over their health and contribute to improved outcomes. RPM expands patient access to care and offers both patients and caregivers increased reassurance. By reducing the frequency of in-person visits, RPM minimizes patient exposure to COVID-19 and other infections, as well as diminishing travel burdens and time away from work. Many RPM programs are nurse-led, often operating through centralized systems akin to the model at Mayo Clinic. A critical aspect of RPM success is the nurse’s role in identifying and addressing “digital poverty” and varying levels of digital health literacy among patients. Nurses not only monitor and respond to patient data but also educate patients on equipment usage and protocols for reporting issues. This is an area where nurses with advanced training, such as Acute Care NPs who may gain experience in telehealth during their online programs (like those potentially offered at UTA and discussed on Allnurses), can play a pivotal role in optimizing patient outcomes and bridging care gaps.
Telehealth
While RPM concentrates on specific technologies like wearables to facilitate clinician-patient interaction, telehealth represents a broader spectrum encompassing the entire remote care industry. The pandemic has solidified telehealth’s significance across all healthcare facets.
Nurses leverage telehealth for diverse care functions, including prevention, triage, symptom management, counseling, and patient education. Some nurses utilize patient portals to manage care remotely, preventing hospital admissions. Advanced practice providers, such as Acute Care NPs, can extend specialized care, like radiation oncology expertise, to rural and underserved communities. The surge in telehealth adoption necessitates that all nurses refine their technical skills, critically assess available resources, and devise innovative solutions to enhance patient access. For nurses pursuing advanced degrees, understanding telehealth is increasingly vital. Online Acute Care NP programs, such as those potentially at UTA, are likely to incorporate telehealth competencies into their curriculum, preparing graduates for this evolving care modality. Discussions on platforms like Allnurses often highlight the growing importance of telehealth skills for NPs.
Hospital Acuity
Ongoing efforts are focused on directing patients to the most appropriate care level, reserving hospital admissions for individuals with the most critical conditions. Primary care providers and hospital administrators are collaborating to ensure the healthcare system’s sustained functionality. Routine healthcare resources are being channeled to primary care for non-COVID-19 services, and to urgent care and hospitals for COVID-19 management. Conversely, specialty care services and non-acute hospital care may face downgrades or temporary suspensions.
Innovative care models, such as Hospital at Home, utilized by organizations like the Veterans Administration and Presbyterian Health System, are providing hospital-level care to higher-acuity patients within their residences. This approach demonstrably reduces complications, improves patient outcomes, and lowers healthcare costs. Consequently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and numerous payers are increasingly reimbursing for acute hospital care delivered at home. This shift necessitates that homecare nurses acquire advanced skill sets and presents critical care nurses with expanded employment opportunities. Acute Care NPs, with their advanced assessment and management skills honed through rigorous programs (including online options from universities like UTA), are particularly well-suited to lead and contribute to these high-acuity home-based care models.
Mandatory Vaccines
The number of healthcare facilities mandating employee vaccinations and boosters against COVID-19 continues to rise. State, local, or employer mandates may require vaccination for all staff across various facilities, as well as for providers delivering inpatient or ambulatory care. This trend establishes vaccination as a prerequisite in many healthcare settings. Healthcare leaders anticipate that mandatory vaccination policies will persist, mirroring annual flu vaccine requirements. The American Nurses Association (ANA) supports mandated COVID-19 vaccines for healthcare professionals.
The adaptations driven by COVID-19, aimed at minimizing face-to-face interactions and mitigating the long-term repercussions of deferred preventive services and elective procedures, alongside persistent clinician shortages, necessitate a care delivery redesign. Nurses, especially those in advanced roles like Acute Care NPs, must cultivate both the technical and interpersonal skills essential to effectively assess and support patients navigating these healthcare transformations. For nurses seeking to enhance their expertise and career prospects in this evolving environment, exploring online Acute Care NP programs, such as those potentially at UTA, offers a strategic pathway. Resources like Allnurses forums can provide valuable insights and peer perspectives on program selection and career advancement in acute care nursing.
