Telehealth and remote nursing jobs became a popular topic of conversation during the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The field of telemedicine had been steadily growing for years prior, but the need for virtual care exploded amid the global crisis as people were urged to stay home and mitigate viral spread.
This expansion of virtual care demonstrates a larger shift in perspective. Healthcare is evolving; telemedicine is changing the way we receive and provide care. And now, more than ever, nurses are uniquely positioned to usher in this new era of healthcare.
What Types of Remote Nursing Jobs Are Available?
The three most common remote nursing jobs are within the areas of Case Management, Utilization Management, and Telephone Triage.
Case Management
Case Management (CM) nurses help coordinate care by ensuring that patients receive prescribed services, equipment, and prescriptions. They may assist with referrals, admission placements, insurance navigation, and more.
This work can often be done in a remote work setting via computer and telephone. The primary employer for remote Case Management jobs is insurance companies. These jobs are quite competitive, so nurses with a background in Case Management or Managed Care are much more marketable for remote roles.
The annual salary for Case Management nurses is typically between $60,000–$80,000 per year.
Utilization Management
Utilization Management (UM) nurses are involved in the financial side of healthcare. The goal of Utilization Management is to contain cost by ensuring appropriate utilization of services within standardized guidelines. For example, a UM nurse may review service requests, ensure the patient meets the criteria for coverage, and ultimately issue an approval or rejection of services based on those coverage guidelines.
Like Case Management, the primary employers for remote Utilization Management jobs are insurance companies. Some employers will hire without Utilization Management experience, but nurses with a background in areas of UM (prior authorization, concurrent review, and appeals) are much more likely to land remote roles.
The annual salary for Utilization Management nurses is typically between $70,000–$80,000 per year.
Telephone Triage
Telephone triage nurses help direct patients to the appropriate level of care. Typically, a patient calls in with a set of symptoms, and the nurse will interview the patient, follow a set of standardized triage protocols, and issue a recommendation for care ranging from at-home management to emergency medical attention.
The most common remote telephone triage employers are private triage companies, hospitals, and insurance companies. Because many triage lines operate 24/7, they tend to offer more schedule flexibility than other remote nursing jobs. They also prefer to hire nurses with Primary Care, Emergency Department, Urgent Care, Pediatric, OB/GYN, Home Health, and Hospice backgrounds.
Telephone triage nurses are typically paid between $25–35 per hour.
How to find Remote Nursing Jobs in 2021
1. Scour the Internet
The best way to find published remote RN or LPN jobs is online! The Remote Nurse has an online job board that specializes in remote nursing jobs. Beyond this, major job boards like Indeed and CareerBuilder are great options, too.
Search for keywords like: “remote,” “telecommute,” “virtual,” and “work from home” alongside nursing keywords like “nurse,” “RN,” and “LPN.” For example: “remote RN jobs,” “remote LPN jobs,” and ”telecommute nurse.” For the location, just leave it blank or simply enter your state.
2. Get on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is social media for career development. Members can follow companies, find jobs, and even connect with HR teams directly! Making yourself discoverable is the first step to finding that next nursing job!
3. Network with Peers
If you know of a nurse who works remotely, connect with them. Let them know you are interested in a position with their company. Many roles are filled by internal referrals before a job posting ever gets published. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other nurses!
4. Subscribe to Nursing Job Alerts
Most job boards have the option to subscribe to job alerts, allowing for a more passive job hunt. Rather than conducting continuous manual searches, you can receive automatic notifications for new jobs matching your criteria. This is essential in the job-hunting process!
Trusted does something similar with their travel nursing jobs, where once you set your job preferences, you receive job matching alerts without having to lift another finger!
How to Apply for Remote Nursing Jobs
1. Update Your Resume
Having an updated and properly formatted resume is critical when applying to remote nursing positions. Many companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which is basically a robot that scans your resume against the job description and determines if you are a viable candidate before another human being ever sees it.
If your skills match the job description, make sure to communicate those skills using the language on the job description. For example, if the job description says “Utilization Review,” and your resume says “Utilization Management,” change your language to “Utilization Review.” This will increase your match rating!
Additionally, formatting is critical. ATS systems favor plain text without tables as well as clear start and end dates. Websites like JobScan.com can test your resume through an ATS lens and offer recommendations for improvement.
2. Write a Cover Letter
Cover letters are a great way to communicate why you are the best candidate for a position. If a company receives 50 resumes of a similar caliber, a cover letter can be a distinguishing factor in landing an interview. Since remote nursing jobs receive hundreds of applicants, any little advantage helps. Make sure you nail your cover letter!
3. Apply, Apply, Apply, and then Move On
These jobs are extremely competitive! The more applications you submit, the higher your chances of landing an interview. At the same time, refrain from obsessing over responses. Many rejection letters will come, and you may never even hear anything at all, but it only takes one interview to change the trajectory of your career.
How to Land a Remote Nursing Job
1. Prepare for a Remote Interview
Most remote companies will require a remote interview. This can be done via video, phone, and even text! Prepare for a remote interview just the same as an in-person interview, but factor in the need to have a webcam, microphone, reliable internet connection, and a clean, quiet, well-lit space.
Test your audio and video 15 minutes prior to the interview to factor in any troubleshooting needed. Wear professional clothes. Look up the company mission, goals, and recent news. Pull up the job description and your resume. Be prepared for scenario questions and have some of your own questions to ask.
2. Focus on Your Skills
During the interview, talk less about your hope for a remote job and more about why you are perfect for this job at this company. If you aren’t perfectly qualified, think about how to frame your transferable skills.
3. Be Yourself
Avoid “performing” to become the person you think employers want. Hint: many other nurses are pretending to be the same “perfect candidate.” Inauthenticity is easily detected. Be yourself and showcase your own personal strengths and character.
Final Notes on Remote Nursing Jobs
Telehealth is here to stay. The world is changing and the need for virtual nurses is growing by the day. For any nurse at a crossroad in their career, remote jobs can offer new opportunities for professional satisfaction and work-life balance.
The key to landing a remote position is to stay committed and consistent in your job search while also building your marketable skills for the roles you are interested in. Eventually, you will find yourself working at home in pajamas! Will 2021 be the year you become a remote nurse?
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