The current COVID-19 situation is still unresolved in many countries, including the USA. Although the vaccination process has started, diverse restrictions for various groups of people are still in place, so the use of technology is relevant these days. Telehealth medicine has not lost its relevance as hospitals are overcrowded, and many people face numerous issues when reaching their doctors or other healthcare professionals (Hirko et al., 2020). It is also quite clear that telehealth medicine is positively accepted by stakeholders, but its use in the future remains rather obscure (Wosik et al., 2020). The way to implement incentives involving the increase in the provision of virtual care needs further research as healthcare facilities are often unprepared due to the scarcity of resources and skilled employees. Therefore, it is essential to investigate hospitals’ preparedness and potential to use telehealth medicine effectively and cater to patients’ needs.
It is noteworthy that nurses should play an active role in this process. In addition to implementing research, they should advocate for the necessary changes at their facility and in the entire healthcare system. Andrews et al. (2020) note that patients and healthcare professionals report their satisfaction regarding the use of virtual care during the pandemic. The majority also express their willingness to utilize such services in the future as well, although some challenges still exist. The lack of resources to ensure the availability of technology and the corresponding specialist is a considerable issue. Nurses can become more involved in the process and provide a wider range of services online, which will contribute to the development of telehealth.
Research and advocacy in this area are my professional plans for the near future. In addition to implementing my research and working on my DNP project, I intend to become a member of a nurse organization. First, it is necessary to note that DNP projects should be an indispensable part of nursing practice as they facilitate the change and ensure the development of practice (Laureate Education, 2011). Membership in a professional organization leads to employees; empowerment, connectedness, and zeal to change oneself and the system.
The organization I want to join in the National League for Nursing (NLN). This organization unites approximately 40,000 individual members and 1,200 institutional members (National League for Nursing, 2021). My choice is justified by my focus on research and professional development. I wish to continue my learning, so I will benefit from sharing information with colleagues, and accessing numerous resources. I would also like to join projects related to virtual care promotion and even apply for a grant to implement my research on the matter. Being a member of this organization will help me gain knowledge and reach people who are willing to advocate for the further development of telehealth.
In conclusion, it is necessary to note that an increase in the use of telehealth medicine was caused by the pandemic. However, the provision of virtual care unveiled diverse opportunities for the healthcare system to evolve and for nurses to become more active participants in the process of change. Membership in the National League for Nursing is an opportunity to continue nursing research and connect to like-minded people and those who can help in research implementation. I will join the organization and will be able to access resources and communicate with people, which will help me in my professional development and my input in the development of the healthcare system.
References
Andrews, E., Berghofer, K., Long, J., Prescott, A., & Caboral-Stevens, M. (2020). Satisfaction with the use of telehealth during COVID-19: An integrative review. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 2, 1-8. Web.
Hirko, K. A., Kerver, J. M., Ford, S., Szafranski, C., Beckett, J., Kitchen, C., & Wendling, A. L. (2020). Telehealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for rural health disparities. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 27(11), 1816-1818. Web.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). The DNP project [Video file]. Web.
National League for Nursing. (2021). Overview. Web.
Wosik, J., Fudim, M., Cameron, B., Gellad, Z. F., Cho, A., Phinney, D., Curtis, S., Roman, M., Poon, E. G., Ferranti, J., Katz, J.N., & Tcheng, J. (2020). Telehealth transformation: COVID-19 and the rise of virtual care. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 27(6), 957-962. Web.