Measuring the impact of virtual nursing in inpatient care: A scoping review

Virtual nursing is expanding in inpatient care to address workforce and financial pressures, but inconsistent measurement limits comparability and evidence-informed decision-making.

To describe how the impact of virtual nursing has been measured at the patient, staff, and organizational levels in inpatient settings.

A scoping review of inpatient virtual nursing literature published between 2016 and 2025 was conducted across four databases. Metrics were extracted, standardized, and categorized by impact level and by structure, process, and outcome categories, and examined for clarity of definition and operationalization.

Thirty six sources yielded 78 unique metrics reported 177 times. Measurement emphasized staff level processes and patient level outcomes, while organizational level and structural indicators were less frequently reported. Fewer than half of metrics were clearly defined or operationalized.

Current measurement approaches emphasize proximal workflow and patient indicators, limiting insight into broader organizational impact.

More consistent measurement is needed to support evaluation of virtual nursing impact.