Telehealth Nursing Interview Assessment:
A Comprehensive Framework for Standardized
Patient Evaluation in NUR 302
NUR 302 — Integrated Nursing Practice
Southern New Hampshire University
Department of Nursing
June 10, 2026
Abstract
Telehealth has rapidly transformed the landscape of nursing care delivery, particularly in
the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated the adoption of virtual health
platforms across healthcare systems. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for
conducting structured telehealth nursing interviews, designed specifically for the NUR 302
Integrated Nursing Practice curriculum at Southern New Hampshire University. The
framework integrates evidence-based assessment methodologies including the OLDCARTS
and PQRST mnemonic systems for chief complaint evaluation, a comprehensive Review of
Systems (ROS), Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screening aligned with Healthy
People 2030 objectives, and cultural humility principles grounded in the Campinha-Bacote
Cultural Competence Model. Additionally, the paper addresses HIPAA compliance
considerations unique to telehealth environments, therapeutic communication techniques
adapted for virtual platforms, and graded rubric alignment to ensure academic rigor. A
sample educational transcript illustrating the application of each framework component is
provided for pedagogical reference. The framework aims to equip nursing students with the
competencies necessary for patient-centered, equitable, and legally compliant telehealth
practice.
Keywords: telehealth nursing, interview assessment, SDOH screening, cultural humility, therapeutic
communication, HIPAA compliance, OLDCARTS, NUR 302
, NUR 302 Telehealth Interview Assessment Framework
1. Introduction
The integration of telehealth into clinical nursing practice represents one of the most
significant paradigm shifts in healthcare delivery over the past decade. Prior to the global
COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth adoption in the United States was relatively limited, with only
24% of healthcare organizations utilizing virtual care platforms in 2019 (American Medical
Association, 2020). By 2021, that figure had surged to approximately 80%, fundamentally altering
the way nursing professionals conduct patient assessments, establish therapeutic relationships, and
deliver patient education (Balestra, 2021). For nursing students, mastering telehealth interview
competencies is no longer an optional skill but a core requirement for practice readiness.
The NUR 302 Integrated Nursing Practice course at Southern New Hampshire University
(SNHU) recognizes this evolution by incorporating a telehealth interview assignment that requires
students to demonstrate proficiency in multiple interrelated domains. These include therapeutic
communication techniques adapted for virtual environments, comprehensive health assessment
using standardized frameworks, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screening, cultural humility
and implicit bias awareness, and HIPAA compliance within the telehealth context. The assignment
is not merely a technical exercise; it demands that students synthesize clinical judgment,
evidence-based practice (EBP), and patient-centered care philosophies within a medium that
presents unique challenges and opportunities.
This paper presents a structured framework for the NUR 302 telehealth interview assignment.
It outlines the essential components of a complete telehealth nursing assessment, provides
evidence-based rationale for each element, and demonstrates alignment with the course grading
rubric. A sample educational transcript is included to illustrate the practical application of the
framework. The overarching goal is to provide nursing students with a clear, actionable guide that
ensures academic excellence while upholding the ethical standards of the nursing profession.
2. Literature Review
2.1 Evolution of Telehealth in Nursing Education
The emergence of telehealth as a primary modality for patient interaction has necessitated a
corresponding evolution in nursing education curricula. Traditional clinical assessment skills—such
as physical examination techniques, tactile observation, and in-person therapeutic rapport
building—require deliberate adaptation for the virtual environment. Research by Shorey et al.
(2021) demonstrated that nursing students who received structured telehealth training showed
significantly higher confidence levels in conducting virtual assessments compared to those who
received only ad hoc exposure. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has also
issued guidelines emphasizing that telehealth competencies should be integrated throughout nursing
curricula rather than treated as ancillary skills (NCSBN, 2022).
The theoretical foundation for telehealth nursing practice draws upon multiple conceptual
models. Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations (1952), which describes nursing as a therapeutic
process occurring through structured interpersonal interaction, provides a particularly robust
framework for understanding telehealth nurse-patient relationships. When applied to the virtual
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A Comprehensive Framework for Standardized
Patient Evaluation in NUR 302
NUR 302 — Integrated Nursing Practice
Southern New Hampshire University
Department of Nursing
June 10, 2026
Abstract
Telehealth has rapidly transformed the landscape of nursing care delivery, particularly in
the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated the adoption of virtual health
platforms across healthcare systems. This paper presents a comprehensive framework for
conducting structured telehealth nursing interviews, designed specifically for the NUR 302
Integrated Nursing Practice curriculum at Southern New Hampshire University. The
framework integrates evidence-based assessment methodologies including the OLDCARTS
and PQRST mnemonic systems for chief complaint evaluation, a comprehensive Review of
Systems (ROS), Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screening aligned with Healthy
People 2030 objectives, and cultural humility principles grounded in the Campinha-Bacote
Cultural Competence Model. Additionally, the paper addresses HIPAA compliance
considerations unique to telehealth environments, therapeutic communication techniques
adapted for virtual platforms, and graded rubric alignment to ensure academic rigor. A
sample educational transcript illustrating the application of each framework component is
provided for pedagogical reference. The framework aims to equip nursing students with the
competencies necessary for patient-centered, equitable, and legally compliant telehealth
practice.
Keywords: telehealth nursing, interview assessment, SDOH screening, cultural humility, therapeutic
communication, HIPAA compliance, OLDCARTS, NUR 302
, NUR 302 Telehealth Interview Assessment Framework
1. Introduction
The integration of telehealth into clinical nursing practice represents one of the most
significant paradigm shifts in healthcare delivery over the past decade. Prior to the global
COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth adoption in the United States was relatively limited, with only
24% of healthcare organizations utilizing virtual care platforms in 2019 (American Medical
Association, 2020). By 2021, that figure had surged to approximately 80%, fundamentally altering
the way nursing professionals conduct patient assessments, establish therapeutic relationships, and
deliver patient education (Balestra, 2021). For nursing students, mastering telehealth interview
competencies is no longer an optional skill but a core requirement for practice readiness.
The NUR 302 Integrated Nursing Practice course at Southern New Hampshire University
(SNHU) recognizes this evolution by incorporating a telehealth interview assignment that requires
students to demonstrate proficiency in multiple interrelated domains. These include therapeutic
communication techniques adapted for virtual environments, comprehensive health assessment
using standardized frameworks, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screening, cultural humility
and implicit bias awareness, and HIPAA compliance within the telehealth context. The assignment
is not merely a technical exercise; it demands that students synthesize clinical judgment,
evidence-based practice (EBP), and patient-centered care philosophies within a medium that
presents unique challenges and opportunities.
This paper presents a structured framework for the NUR 302 telehealth interview assignment.
It outlines the essential components of a complete telehealth nursing assessment, provides
evidence-based rationale for each element, and demonstrates alignment with the course grading
rubric. A sample educational transcript is included to illustrate the practical application of the
framework. The overarching goal is to provide nursing students with a clear, actionable guide that
ensures academic excellence while upholding the ethical standards of the nursing profession.
2. Literature Review
2.1 Evolution of Telehealth in Nursing Education
The emergence of telehealth as a primary modality for patient interaction has necessitated a
corresponding evolution in nursing education curricula. Traditional clinical assessment skills—such
as physical examination techniques, tactile observation, and in-person therapeutic rapport
building—require deliberate adaptation for the virtual environment. Research by Shorey et al.
(2021) demonstrated that nursing students who received structured telehealth training showed
significantly higher confidence levels in conducting virtual assessments compared to those who
received only ad hoc exposure. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has also
issued guidelines emphasizing that telehealth competencies should be integrated throughout nursing
curricula rather than treated as ancillary skills (NCSBN, 2022).
The theoretical foundation for telehealth nursing practice draws upon multiple conceptual
models. Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations (1952), which describes nursing as a therapeutic
process occurring through structured interpersonal interaction, provides a particularly robust
framework for understanding telehealth nurse-patient relationships. When applied to the virtual
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