The NP profession is here to stay, with employment in the field expected to leap by 45% by 2032. Despite the benefits of this growing career field, many NPs are unfortunately struggling to manage the workload and the stress that comes with it. According to Medscape’s Nurse Practitioner Burnout & Depression Report 2024, 7 in 10 NPs are feeling burned out and/or depressed, and 60% report job stress as at least one of the root causes. Although more are entering the field, the stress from the workload could still damage the profession as it is causing 1 in 8 NPs to consider leaving medicine altogether. Thankfully, innovative ways of practicing medicine are becoming more accessible, one popular choice being telehealth services. By implementing telehealth to manage NP burnout, NPs can better manage their stress for an enhanced work-life balance.
More Work-Life Balance Through Telehealth
Telehealth brings opportunities for flexibility that were once near impossible for NPs. Traditional shifts involved long hours at clinics or hospitals, often including overtime hours depending on patient needs. Now with telehealth, NPs can provide services from any remote location (within state licensing limitations), reducing the need to commute. With less time spent traveling, NPs can ensure their schedules are more predictable, and they can plan to work outside of the clinic environment if they are experiencing higher levels of emotional and mental strain. Having more predictability will also help manage NP burnout as they can plan to have time for other hobbies, self-care, and their families, further enhancing their work-life balance.
Less Stress with Telehealth Triage Systems
On top of predictability, telehealth can also improve the stress of heavy patient loads. Telehealth technology brings the option to triage systems, allowing NPs to address patient needs through multiple streams. This can include conducting initial evaluations on patients through chatbots and questionnaires as well as video calls. With multiple forms of patient evaluation at their disposal, NPs can examine which patient has the most pressing symptoms or conditions and needs priority for treatment. Patients with less urgency for care can then be managed with virtual follow-ups at later times, ensuring that critical needs are addressed promptly. Creating this triage system gives NPs the ability to manage a high volume of patients with less risk of becoming overwhelmed, decreasing overall job stress while strengthening the quality of patient care.
Erase Compassion Fatigue through Virtual Care
Part of the emotional strain NPs face comes from the level of compassion required to care for patients. Although many NPs come into the field prepared to share much-needed empathy with their patients, doing this on a consistent basis every day can overextend a person’s emotional capacity and lead to burnout. Through virtual care, NPs can protect their emotional boundaries by building out a schedule that is flexible enough to include breaks between sessions when needed. There are also digital tools available (automated reminders, messaging platforms, remote monitoring devices, etc) to streamline the follow-up process without draining their emotional capacity.
Reclaim Balance with Telehealth Solutions
Incorporating telehealth into their practice can be a game changer for those looking to manage NP burnout, offering much-needed relief from the pressures of their demanding roles. By allowing greater flexibility, effective patient triage, and tools to manage compassion fatigue, telehealth enables NPs to maintain a healthier work-life balance. As the profession continues to grow, embracing these digital solutions can help ensure that NPs remain engaged, supported, and equipped to deliver high-quality care without sacrificing their well-being.
