title: On Virtual Presence.
abstract: Advances in health care and communication technology have expanded nursing practice to nontraditional environments that preclude the physical presence of the nurse for a caring encounter. An increasing number of nurses are creating and maintaining nurse-patient relationships and practicing in a diverse range of specialties in virtual/distance environments. Can nursing presence as a caring modality be "real" in a virtual/distance environment? A new ontology of nursing presence is offered that transcends people, place, space, and time.
authors.affiliation: C. E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida.
authors.forename: Valarie S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Grumme
authors.forename: Charlotte D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Shirley C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Marilyn A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*