The role of nurses in healthcare has evolved significantly worldwide in recent years. Some of the most significant changes have been adapting to new technologies, patient needs, and care delivery models.
The increased popularity of decentralised clinical trials has opened doors to a modern alternative to traditional nursing. Instead of structured hospital shifts, we now have a time-honoured and flexible approach in the form of mobile health professionals – like Seacole Health nurses.
Traditional nurses set the cornerstone of patient care
Traditional nurses typically work in set hospital or clinic settings, where they play pivotal roles in direct patient care. Their responsibilities encompass a wide array of tasks, from administering medications and monitoring vital signs to providing emotional support to patients and families. These nurses often work in shifts, adhering to schedules that ensure round-the-clock care for patients in acute care settings.
The hospital environment demands a high level of adaptability and resilience from traditional nurses. They navigate complex medical conditions, collaborate closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals, and manage critical situations with precision and compassion. The structured nature of their work allows for consistency in patient care but may limit flexibility in terms of work hours and locations.
Mobile health professionals offer a modern approach to healthcare
Mobile health professionals deliver healthcare services outside of the traditional hospital setting. They represent a modern approach to healthcare delivery, focusing on accessibility and patient-centred care.
Mobile healthcare provides adaptability and personalisation, where the main focus is on the individual patient and their unique needs. It helps overcome common barriers in healthcare like limited accessibility, transportation and continuity in procedures. Mobile health nurses operate in flexible settings, adapting their schedules and services to accommodate patients’ lifestyles and preferences.
Mobile health professionals play a crucial role in improving access to healthcare services, especially for individuals who face barriers to accessing traditional healthcare settings due to mobility issues, geographic location, or other factors. They bring medical care directly to where patients live or work, facilitating convenience, continuity of care, and improved health outcomes.
Key differences between traditional and mobile health nurses
While both traditional and mobile health professionals provide patient care, there are still many differences between the two healthcare approaches. Here are three key differences between traditional and mobile health nurses:
1. Flexibility for nurses
Traditional nurses primarily work within structured hospital or clinic environments, adhering to fixed shifts to ensure continuous patient care. This setting provides a consistent environment for patient management but may limit flexibility in scheduling and work locations. In contrast, mobile health professionals enjoy greater autonomy in managing their schedules and choosing their work environments. This flexibility allows mobile health professionals to achieve better work-life balance with adaptable schedules that best suit their lives, tailor their care approach to individual patient needs, and adapt their practices to different settings such as homes, workplaces, or community centres.
2. Patient-centred care and accessibility
Traditional nurses focus on providing comprehensive care within hospital settings, while mobile health professionals prioritise patient-centred care by bringing healthcare services directly to where patients live or work. The mobile health approach improves accessibility for individuals facing barriers such as geographic distance, mobility issues, or chronic illnesses that require ongoing care. By establishing relationships outside hospital settings, mobile health professionals foster continuity of care and empower patients to actively participate in managing their health. This flexibility enables them to deliver personalised care that aligns with individual patient preferences and enhances patient satisfaction.
3. Participation in research and innovation
The decentralisation of clinical trials has positioned mobile health professionals at the forefront of clinical research and opened more doors to participate in the development of future healthcare advancements. They can play a key role in enhancing clinical research outcomes by providing patient-centred care, leveraging their expertise, and improving the overall patient experience. This involvement not only fosters professional development and clinical skills but also enables opportunities to directly impact patient experiences by providing life-changing treatment and improving patient retention in clinical trials. In contrast, traditional nurses contribute to research within structured hospital settings, focusing on advancing clinical practices and implementing evidence-based care protocols to improve patient care and drive innovation in clinical care delivery.
Seacole Health putting mobile healthcare professionals at the heart of the clinical trials
Seacole Health represents the modern shift in nursing practice, emphasising flexibility, innovation, and patient-centred care.
Our nurses benefit from our people-first approach as we go above and beyond to provide our nurses with the very best opportunities for their own needs and terms. Being part of mdgroup, a patient driven clinical solutions company, enables us to offer our nurses access to opportunities in clinical studies at the forefront of medical research around the world. We provide fully flexible opportunities based on our nurses’ locations and available hours – focusing on individual situations with family, career goals and life as a whole.
The role of a Seacole Health nurse extends beyond the boundaries of a physical hospital, such as telemedicine or in-home visits for clinical trial participants. This approach not only enhances accessibility to healthcare but also empowers patients by enabling them to receive care in the comfort of their own homes. The research we are involved in has the very real ability to change lives.
Here are some insights directly from Seacole Health nurses:
“I have always loved being a nurse and spent the most part of my career working in operating theatres in hospital settings. When I started out, I never even thought beyond what a career in nursing could be if it wasn’t in a hospital setting – it was all I knew”.
“The last couple of years especially have shown us that clinical research is in a constant state of flux and advancement. The resulting care pathway has brought nurses closer to contributing to research directly, making our skillset and expertise even more valuable. Nurses are vital in contributing to best practices for study teams embarking on new modes of clinical research. We enhance the patient experience and champion patient-centricity by ensuring the changing needs of patients are met”.
Interested in more insights from nurses? Check out our previous blog, which features real-life experiences from two of our wonderful research nurses, Julia and Ashley.
The future of healthcare
The evolving roles of traditional and mobile health nurses reflect broader trends in healthcare delivery, emphasising flexibility, patient-centred care, and the integration of technology.
While traditional nursing remains indispensable in acute care settings, mobile healthcare represents a forward-thinking approach to healthcare. The mobile healthcare approach enables a direct impact on patient experiences, improves clinical trial outcomes and provides better work-life balance for nurses by leveraging flexibility and enhancing accessibility.
As healthcare continues to develop, understanding these differences allows us to appreciate the diverse contributions of nurses and the transformative impact of flexible care models.
