Is virtual nursing the answer? In this episode, we explore the transformative potential of virtual nursing as a solution to ease the strain on bedside nurses, address staffing shortages and offer a new career pathway for nurses.  Join the co-hosts as they welcome special guest Kelsea Cox for a conversation and case study about the fundamentals and latest advances in virtual nursing. 

SPECIAL GUEST

Kelsea Cox, MSN, BSN, RN, CENP is a Director of Patient Care Services at Saint Luke’s Health System located in Kansas City, Missouri. Kelsea graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 2011 with her BSN and completed her MSN in 2017 from the University of Missouri. She recently obtained her certification in executive nursing practice in 2023.  Over her 12-year nursing career in the Critical Care space, Kelsea has spent time working in Cardiovascular Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine, and Electrophysiology Procedural Care. In addition to her clinical career, she has also served as a trainer for her peers during the implementation of a new EHR.  After becoming a director in 2020, Kelsea oversaw the opening of a new 33-bed unit that was the first in the system to trial a new care innovation incorporating Virtual RNs into the care team. In 2022, she assumed leadership responsibilities for the newly developed Virtual Expert Care program and led the program system expansion growing services from serving a single 33-bed unit to over 550 beds within the Saint Luke’s Health System. The expansion not only covered additional inpatient beds but also incorporated different disciplines of care including Social Work and Medication History Technicians.  Finally, outside of the system, Kelsea has also been actively partnering with AMSN to create domains for the upcoming Certified Acute Virtual Registered Nurse Exam (CAVRN) as well as serving as an item writer for the CAVRN exam.

 

MEET OUR CO-HOSTS

Caroline Ashman, MSN, RN, CMSRN was born and raised in England. She had two dreams in life – to become a nurse and live in the United States. She accomplished the first task in 1985 and then in 1991, immigrated to America. She currently serves as a Nurse Leader. She has also been afforded the wonderful opportunity to teach Med Surg Review Courses across the United States and in Europe for AMSN. Collecting air miles and sharing stores along the way, she is thrilled to join the Podcast team and recognize that the specialty of medical surgical nursing is alive and well. Caroline lives with her husband Jimmy, in metro Atlanta and has two grown daughters, Jennifer & Emily.

 

Laura Johnson, MSN, RN, CMSRN has been a nurse since 2008 with a background in Med/Surg and Oncology.  She has held many positions throughout my career including management and leadership.  Laura obtained her MSN in nursing education in 2018.  Since then, she has worked as a bedside educator with both experienced staff and nurse residency with specialties in end of life and mentorship.  She is currently working as an NPD practitioner for oncology and bone marrow transplant units. 

 

Neil H. Johnson, RN, BSN, CMSRN, is a native New Yorker that has settled in North Carolina for the last 24 years. He has worked his way up the Nursing ladder from a C.N.A to achieving his BSN, and is in pursuit of his MSN in Nurse Education. He has worked in Oncology, Palliative, Behavioral Health, but his heart always brings him back to Medical-Surgical Nursing, where he holds his certification.He is currently a FLEX pool Med/Surg night nurse for Moses Cone Hospital System, floating to 4 facilities. 

 

Maritess M. Quinto, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, CMSRN is a Clinical Educator currently leading a team of educators who is passionately helping healthcare colleagues, especially newly graduate nurses. She was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States with her family in Florida. Her family of seven (three girls and two boys with her husband who is also a Registered Nurse) loves to travel, especially to Disney World. She loves to share her experiences about parenting, travelling, and, of course, nursing!