Telehealth use among registered nurses: A national sample survey analysis

Telenursing utilization fluctuated during the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery.

To determine United States nationally representative estimates in telenursing and ascertain disparities by practice rurality, patient population, and nurse racial identity.

Applied epidemiological analysis of the 2022 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (RNs) with weighting for national representativeness.

Weighted estimates represented 2,789,399 RNs. Limited telenursing use (22%) for inpatient and outpatient care was reported; the forms most frequently used were live videoconferencing (67%), audio calls (66%), and text or live chat (31%). Disparities by practice rurality and patient population were observed, but none by nurse racial identity.

Limited adoption of telenursing practice for inpatient and outpatient care was reported, despite pandemic conditions. Proactive policy development is needed to advance equal access to health services through telenursing use in rural areas, older adult practices, and pediatric nursing.