UnityPoint certifies acute-care virtual registered nurses

WEST DES MOINES — A virtual nursing program started by UnityPoint Health three years ago to help address staffing challenges during the pandemic has led the organization to become an industry leader in the field.

UnityPoint Health is one of the first healthcare organizations in the nation to have certified acute-care virtual registered nurses on staff, the organization said in a press release.

The certification is offered through the medical-surgical nursing certification board.

Earlier this year, UnityPoint Health was one of a handful of healthcare organizations in the United States invited by the MSNCB to serve as subject matter experts in developing the CAVRN certification exam and establishing standards for acute-care virtual nursing practice, the press release said.

The exam development and review group focused on quality and safety expectations, patient and family education and communication and teamwork.

Among the 40 nurses who assisted in developing the CAVRN exam and became the first to obtain CAVRN certification, seven were UnityPoint Health nurses: Brett Bullis, Des Moines; Camella Wright, Des Moines; Cheyenne Zeien, Waterloo; Emily Niebuhr, Quad Cities; Kimberly Pittman, Sioux City; Lori Babcock, Des Moines; and Sarah Brown.

Since introducing its virtual nursing program in 2021, UnityPoint Health has grown the program to support 12 hospitals, 34 inpatient units and 1,038 beds, said UnityPoint.

The team, consisting of more than 50 virtual registered nurses, works beside bedside nurses to assist with admission and discharge processes, care plans, visual assessments and providing educational materials to patients and their families at the time of discharge.