What telehealth nurses do
Telehealth nurses assess, advise and coordinate care for patients they don't meet in person. Most of the work happens by phone or video, guided by clinical protocols and documented in an electronic health record.
- Telephone triage nurse: assesses symptoms and directs callers to the right level of care, from self-care to the emergency department.
- Nurse advice line nurse: answers health questions for an insurer, health system or employer health plan.
- Remote patient monitoring nurse: reviews readings from home devices and follows up when a result needs attention.
- Chronic care management nurse: runs scheduled check-ins with patients living with long-term conditions.
- Virtual nursing and tele-ICU: supports bedside teams from a remote hub with admissions, discharges and monitoring.
Licensing: where you can work from
Nurses generally need a license that is valid where the patient is located, not only where the nurse lives. In the United States, the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) lets RNs and LPNs with a multistate license practice in other participating states. Most states have joined, but not all, so many employers list exactly which licenses a role requires.
Outside the US, registration is handled nationally or provincially, for example by the NMC in the UK, NMBI in Ireland, Ahpra in Australia, the Nursing Council of New Zealand, and provincial regulators in Canada. Each Jobalgia listing shows where you can work from, so check it before you apply.
Schedules and pay
Triage and advice lines often run around the clock, so evening, overnight and weekend shifts are common, sometimes with a differential. Monitoring and care management roles tend to keep business hours in a set time zone. Pay depends on the employer, location and experience, which is why every listing on Jobalgia shows its pay range up front.
How to get hired
- Lead with recent clinical experience. Most employers ask for one to three years or more, often in acute care, emergency, or ambulatory settings.
- Mention triage protocols you've used, the EHR systems you know, and any certifications.
- Show you can work independently. Employers usually expect a private, quiet workspace and a reliable internet connection.
- Apply through the employer's own website or applicant tracking system, and never pay for equipment, training or a background check to get a job.
Sources: NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact (nursecompact.com); national nursing regulators listed above. This guide is general career information, not legal advice.