Exploring the Challenges and Benefits of Telenursing

Telehealth definition according to our textbook by Hebda, T., & Czar, P., 2013 is the use of telecommunications technologies and electronic information to exchange healthcare information and to provide and support services such as long-distance clinical healthcare to clients. It provides health care to patients that may not be able to have access to care. Telehealth requires a patient to have electronic tools to facilitate this type of service. Electronic tools can be a telephone, computer, or a video camera. The patient is able to call or enable video conferencing to have access to their health care provider. Telehealth allows the patient to have access to preventative care and education on their disease process and how to manage it at home.
A., Pomerleau, S. G., & Penner, J. L., “Knowing is a process of perceiving and understanding the Self and the world”. Nurses as caregivers must appreciate each patient for who they are as individuals. The nurse must also know how to provide nursing care with the knowledge he/she gains from experience in the field. Caring is the main component needed for a nurse to give quality care to a patient. The nurse must assess the needs of a patient and direct the patient plan of care around the patient’s ability to engage in his/her own rehabilitation. Nurses must create a genuine relationship with the patient in order to determine how much their patient is willing to participate in their care. Nurses have always used their visual instincts in patient care. There has always been a face to face where the patient is physically in front the nurse. Telenursing is different because nurses no longer can rely on face to face interaction with their patients. In order to facilitate care over the phone nurses need to know their patient to provide individual care and ensure the safety of the patient with the nurses’ judgment. Not only can phone conversations be taken out of context so can emails and text messages. The nurse must have a strong bond with their patients so this type of complication will not occur. Another problem when using any form of communication that is not face to face is that it is not always possible to express empathy or build a sense of unity. Patients need to feel that the person on the other end cares. The tone a person takes on the phone can either make or break a relationship. In some conditions telenursing is not always appropriate, for instance a patient who is suffering from a deadly condition. Telephone and computers cannot provide compassion like a real person. In the end telenursing is a valuable service to patients but it is not