AAACN Releases 5th Edition of Telehealth Standards



The American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) released the newly titled Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Telehealth Nursing. The fifth edition provides scope and practice guidance specific to the ambulatory subspecialty of Telehealth. The standards promote effective clinical and administrative management of the increasingly complex telehealth nursing roles and responsibilities in a changing health care environment. Sixteen standards are included along with competencies for telehealth registered nurses, nurse executives, administrators, and managers. The standards reflect current professional norms, practices, and expectations.

The publication can be used as a tool to advance ambulatory care professional nursing practice, patient health, and the performance outcomes of telehealth institutions. This resource is ideal for writing policies, procedures, and job descriptions; orienting staff; planning for Joint Commission surveys; and increasing the quality and safety of patient care. You can also use the “standards” to prepare for the ambulatory care nursing certification exam, which contains questions on telehealth nursing and is the recommended exam to validate telehealth nursing knowledge. It costs $44 and can be ordered at www.aaacn.org/store.