The term "telenursing" is a reference to the use of information technology and telecommunications resources to provide nursing health care services to patients who reside at a great physical distance from health care facilities.

With telenursing technology via videoconferencing, the Internet, or videophone, a single nurse can interact with as many as 12 to 16 patients a day. Applications include the monitoring of patients with diabetes, heart disease, a range of neural degenerative diseases, or those who are recuperating from surgery (among others).

Via means of remote access a patient's vital signs can be monitored and recorded, the patient can ask questions and interact with a health care professional, and other counseling services can be performed. Telenursing is simply a modern means of augmenting case management and is an aspect of the developing field of telemedicine that is increasingly providing remote consultations and diagnosis. The technology serves to help overcome limitations of distance and shortages in health care personnel.

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