5 Remote Nursing Careers and Tips on How to Become a Remote RN

Thanks to the rise of telehealth in the modern digital age, remote nursing has become a viable career option for countless practitioners. So, if you’re interested in pursuing a career as a work-from-home nurse, what do you need to know?

The first step to be eligible for a virtual nursing career is to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. One good example is the 16-month Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at Northeastern University.

In this post, we’ll cover the types of nursing roles that are available in both remote and hybrid formats before offering some tips for launching your remote nursing career.

Is It Possible to Work Remotely as a Nurse?

Healthcare is a patient-focused industry, so it is understandable if you are confused about how remote nursing works. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has gained tremendous traction throughout the healthcare industry. According to the Harvard Business Review, companies are likely to continue developing their telehealth programs because they offer a wide array of practical benefits, including higher accessibility and lower costs. As healthcare providers have increasingly incorporated telehealth services into their practice, the need for remote nurses in patient-facing roles has blossomed.

Alternately, some remote nurses roles do not directly face the patient. Rather, they apply nursing skills in an administrative capacity. In either case, remote nursing opportunities continue to grow as technology plays an ever-larger role in patient care.

5 Remote Nursing Roles

While there are many roles under the umbrella of work from home nurse, we’ll break down a few of the most common opportunities so you can see if any of them pique your interest. Remember that new remote opportunities are continually emerging; these are only a few of the countless options that will be available to you.

1. Case Manager

Case managers ensure that their patients are well cared for and that all of the healthcare providers on a patient’s case are on the same page about their treatment plan. In other words, they facilitate effective communication between the care team. Additionally, case managers interact with the patients and their families to ensure that their needs are being met. While case managers often work in person at healthcare facilities, you can also find remote case-management roles.

2. Telemedicine Clinic Nurse

Telemedicine clinic nurses work alongside healthcare providers, including doctors and nurse practitioners, to provide telehealth services to patients. They facilitate e-visits with patients, interview patients about their symptoms, enter data into the electronic medical record, and assist clinicians.

3. Compliance Nurse

Compliance nurses work with data and analytics to ensure that all policies and regulations are being properly followed. These nurses may work for health insurance companies or healthcare organizations. If you’re an analytical person who enjoys working with data, compliance nursing may be an excellent fit for you.

4. Triage Registered Nurse

Triage registered nurses (RNs) are generally patients’ first point of contact during e-visits. They interview the patients, complete a preliminary assessment, and report their findings to the primary provider. Triage RNs must effectively build connections with patients, observe details, and determine the urgency of various conditions.

5. Insurance Claims Nurse

Insurance claims nurses work for insurance companies to evaluate the medical claims that they receive. Having expert knowledge in the field, nurses are well-prepared to offer their perspective on the validity of insurance claims. Insurance is an ideal field for RNs with an investigative spirit who want to work in the private sector in a non-patient-facing role.

4 Tips for Starting a Remote Nursing Career

If remote nursing is your goal, what can you do today to get on the right track? Here are a few pointers for success in this developing field.

1. Earn Your BSN

While it’s possible to become a registered nurse (RN) with an associate degree, most telehealth companies prefer applicants with a BSN. Remember that these roles are highly competitive, as they are not geographically limited in their applicant pool. Therefore, it’s important to position yourself well by having a bachelor’s degree.

If you already have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, or at least 62 college credits for our Charlotte location, you may be eligible to earn your degree in 16 months through Northeastern’s accelerated nursing program. We offer three start dates each year, so you don’t need to wait long to begin. The ABSN program combines online learning with in-person labs and clinical experiences to ensure that you’re prepared for your professional nursing career.

2. Gain Bedside Nursing Experience

After graduating from nursing school, you may be tempted to immediately apply for remote nursing positions. However, before transitioning to remote work, you generally need to get professional experience in an in-person nursing role. You need to understand how nurses function within the healthcare team, and that requires on-the-ground experience. Employers know the value of mastering your craft, so hiring managers for remote roles will prioritize candidates with professional bedside nursing experience.

3. Perfect Your Resume

Another key strategy for getting hired as a remote nurse is to put your best foot forward. Spend time polishing your resume so that it highlights your strengths and past patient-care experiences. Have someone else review it before you start applying for jobs.

4. Grow Your Professional Network

Connections can develop easily through in-person nursing jobs, as they entail working closely alongside other people every day. As a work from home nurse, however, you’ll need to work harder to form these connections. Still, it’s vital to maintain and grow a professional network, as it can provide you with resources, friendships, and even a future job. As you enter the remote nursing field, make sure to put effort into connecting with your coworkers and investing time into your network; your efforts will pay dividends in the long run.

Earn Your Nursing Degree at Northeastern!

Are you ready to begin your journey of becoming a work from home nurse? There has never been a better time to pursue a career in this rapidly developing field. The first step to working in remote nursing is to earn a BSN degree, and Northeastern can help you do that in as few as 16 months.

To find out if Northeastern’s ABSN program is right for you, reach out to our admissions counselors, and we’ll schedule a time to talk with you over the phone. There’s no day like today to start pursuing your dream of becoming a nurse!