UnityPoint Health Certified Acute-Care Virtual Registered Nurses Among First in Nation

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 proud to be one of the first healthcare organizations in the nation to have Certified Acute-Care Virtual Registered Nurses (CAVRN) on staff. The certification is offered through the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB).

“This certification reflects the expertise of our virtual nursing team and demonstrates to our patients and communities that we have the knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality virtual care in the inpatient environment,” said UnityPoint Health Chief Nursing Officer Sarah Brown. "I’m honored to have been a part of the exam development process and continue to be inspired by the partnership between our virtual and bedside nursing teams in caring for our patients.”

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 exam development and review group focused on quality and safety expectations, patient and family education, communication and teamwork, among other subject areas.

Amongst the 40 nurses from across the country who assisted in developing the CAVRN exam and became the first to obtain CAVRN certification, seven were UnityPoint Health nurses.

• Brett Bullis, RN, CAVRN, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines
• Camella Wright, BSN, RN, CPEN, CAVRN, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines
• Cheyenne Zeien, RN, CAVRN, UnityPoint Health - Waterloo
• Emily Niebuhr, RN, CAVRN, UnityPoint Health - Quad Cities
• Kimberly Pittman, RN, CAVRN, UnityPoint Health - Sioux City
• Lori Babcock, RN, CAVRN, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines
• Sarah Brown, MSN, RN, CENP, NEA-BC, CAVRN, UnityPoint Health

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 across its system with plans for future growth. The team, consisting of over 50 virtual registered nurses, works alongside 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. This has led to an 8 percent improvement in patients’ understanding of how to manage their care at home, helping prevent readmissions to the hospital and improving their overall care experience.