Telehealth NP Jobs: Tips to Get Hired & Succeed!

Are you thinking of exploring telehealth opportunities as a real deal NP? Intrigued by the possibility of a flexible schedule? Do you have questions on what resources and technology you’ll need to be a telehealth clinician? Then this post is for you, and there’s so much to talk about!

We’re going to get into what telehealth actually is, and the benefits of telehealth and telemedicine for both patients and clinicians. And if you’re ready to start a new job as a telehealth NP, we’ll go over where to search for jobs and important things to keep in mind when working remotely.

What is telehealth?

Let’s start out by defining what telehealth actually is.

First, is there a difference between telehealth and telemedicine? Technically, yes, although both terms are often used interchangeably. Think of telemedicine as being more specific to clinical services like diagnosing and prescription management, whereas telehealth is more broad and includes consulting and patient education aspects. For this post, we’ll use the term telehealth since it is the more general term.

Telehealth became really popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. That was mainly out of necessity due to limitations of in-person care. However, telehealth has actually been around for quite a while, well before 2020.

So, what is telehealth? In simple terms, it’s the care of patients by a healthcare professional remotely using digital communication (video conferencing, audio / phone calls, or even messaging apps). Telehealth can include all aspects of care including consulting, diagnosing, ordering tests, prescribing medications, and educating patients.

What are the benefits of telehealth?

Increased access to care

There are benefits for both patients and clinicians that help to keep telehealth so popular. For patients, telehealth helps to increase access to care. This is especially true for patients in more remote areas where seeing a clinician, especially a specialist, can be hours away in distance.

The addition of telehealth appointments can also increase availability of clinicians which also helps to increase accessibility for patients. Those are just part of the reason that patients report high satisfaction with telehealth services.

Greater flexibility

For clinicians, the greater flexibility in your schedule is a huge appeal. You can have greater independence in the location where you work, get rid of a commute altogether, schedule appointments outside of the traditional 9–5 office hours (which increases availability to patients!), and have a better work-life balance.

There also tend to be lower patient “no-show” rates with telehealth appointments, so there is the opportunity for a more stable revenue depending on your compensation structure. 

Where can I find telehealth NP jobs?

Still interested? Let’s talk about how to find telehealth jobs for NPs!

Job Boards

As with finding any NP job, you’ll have to get creative with your searches. We definitely recommend utilizing professional platforms like LinkedIn and job board sites like Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter. Those sites have filters you can use to isolate remote positions.

Telehealth Companies

There are also companies that specialize only in telehealth. For example, you can check out Wheel, SteadyMD, or Sprinter Health. Some companies provide telehealth services while others will help to match you with telehealth opportunities.

Networking

Lastly, don’t forget to network. LinkedIn is a top site to expand your network of colleagues, make connections, and send messages. We also really recommend attending professional conferences when you can. There are always recruiters for healthcare systems there, plus you can mingle with others and learn about available opportunities!

👀 Did you know that SMNP Reviews has a Job Hunt Course for just $39?! It includes resources on where to find NP jobs, interview prep (including a mock interview!), and contract negotiation tips. Check it out!

What kind of experience and skills do I need before starting in telehealth as an NP?

Before searching for and applying to telehealth NP jobs, you’ll need to think about which area of telehealth you want to pursue. There are opportunities in telehealth in urgent care, mental health, primary care, and so many more! And just like for an in-person clinical job, you’ll want to have the proper experience, education, and certification for that setting.

Also, since telehealth removes the hands-on component of patient care, you need to have really good history-taking and diagnostic reasoning skills. For that reason, many telehealth companies do prefer NPs and other clinicians have a few years of in-person clinical experience.

Additional considerations include technological skills. You don’t need a background in IT to work as a telehealth NP, but you definitely need to have proficient computer skills, feel comfortable with electronic communications (documenting, messaging, emailing, etc.), and know some basic troubleshooting skills for when technology goes awry. 

What are some tips for NPs working in telehealth?

Let’s go over some tips and considerations before diving into a telehealth role!

1. Understand legal regulations

One of the most important considerations as a telehealth NP is that you need to understand the scope of practice for NPs in different states. Each state has their own guidelines and regulations for telehealth regarding things like a need for collaborating/supervision physicians versus ability to practice independently, reimbursement of services, and how to obtain consent from patients for telehealth visits. You may also need to update your malpractice insurance to include coverage for telehealth services. If you are joining an established telehealth company, they should be able to guide you through all of those aspects.

Since telehealth allows for greater accessibility for patients, you will very likely need to have licenses in multiple states. Multiple state licenses increases your marketability, but it also increases the renewal costs and understanding different continuing education requirements for each state. Obtaining licensure in additional states also takes time, so it might take you several weeks or months to get all the licenses you need for a particular position.

Also, you’ll need to know what can and cannot be evaluated through a telehealth appointment. Besides the obvious cases of a potential medical emergency (active bleeding, stroke, heart attack, etc), what are some additional things that telehealth is not suited for? Patients with multiple concerns or complex medical conditions or any instance where the opportunity for a physical exam would drastically change your diagnostic reasoning should be evaluated in-person. A regulatory example of a limitation of telehealth is Department of Transportation (DOT) exams for certain commercial drivers. DOT physicals cannot be fully completed virtually and require a component of an in-person exam. 

2. Create a safe and welcoming virtual environment

Once you’ve landed a telehealth NP job, what can you do to make sure your patients feel like they are entering a safe and welcoming environment virtually?

– Make sure to have a good quality camera so that you don’t appear grainy and pair that with a good microphone that amplifies your voice and minimizes background noise.

– Create a space that is calming and not too busy. If your desk is visible, keep it clean and organized.

– You’ll also want to maintain eye contact and pay attention to your body language since nonverbal communication can be interpreted differently in a virtual environment. 

3. Be prepared for technological challenges

Lastly, you’ll need to be prepared for the inevitable technological challenges and interruptions. We have all experienced the stress of losing internet connectivity or unexpectedly having a battery die on your phone, laptop, or tablet during something important. Make sure you know who to reach out to on your team for technical support and understand some basic troubleshooting strategies.

You can also ask for a mock patient visit so that you can practice with the camera and audio equipment and get used to the flow of the encounter. 

Final Thoughts

Telehealth is expected to continue to grow, which means exciting opportunities for NPs and other clinicians! You can have flexibility in your schedule and high earning potential, but be sure to review the specific rules and regulations you’ll have to follow. We hope you found this post helpful and be sure to check out these other posts and resources here at SMNP Reviews!

• Beyond the Bedside: Non-Clinical NP Jobs
• Best Apps for Nurse Practitioners: Studying, Scheduling, Note-Taking, & More
• NP Scope of Practice: What to Know for Aspiring NPs