What Are the Challenges of Rural Nursing?

While not for every nursing professional, working in a rural area can have its benefits. However, as with anything, rural nursing can also have its challenges. In this article, we will cover the unique challenges faced by rural nurses, including limited access to medical resources, unique patient needs, cultural competency challenges, and lack of healthcare infrastructure. Understanding these unique challenges will help you determine if rural nursing is for you.

In our Nurse Insights series, experienced nurses offer an insider’s perspective on the nursing profession by addressing common questions, challenges, and triumphs of their careers.

---

Limited Access to Medical Resources and Facilities

If you’re a nurse who is considering working in a rural area, you may find that your geographic location can have significant effects on your access to certain healthcare resources that you are accustomed to in an urban setting. These limitations can stem from the fact that rural areas are often distant from the urban centers that typically boast larger, more comprehensive hospitals and advanced healthcare facilities.

Access to Advanced Healthcare

In places where there is no easy access to a major healthcare center, the range of patient conditions that nurses have to deal with can be quite broad. It means that these are the situations that demand you, as a nurse, to step up and equip yourself with diverse sets of skills to handle any type of healthcare situation.

Utilization of Medical Technology

Another challenge rural nurses often face is having limited access to the latest medical technology. Many cutting-edge tools and equipment may not be readily available in such settings. This requires rural nurses to become particularly resourceful and adept at making the most of the technology at their disposal.

Specialty Services Limitation

Being geographically distant from urban centers also means that rural nurses often have limited access to a range of specialty services. This means you may see fewer specialists in rural areas and may need to develop a wide range of competencies to bridge that gap and provide comprehensive care to your patients.

The Upside: Developing Broad Skill Sets

Although these limitations can be challenging, they also present a unique opportunity to become adept at many different facets of healthcare. As a rural nurse, you may find yourself developing a wide range of skills and competencies that your urban counterparts may not. It’s all part of the complexities and rewards of rural nursing.

Uniqueness of Rural Population Health Needs

As a nurse, when you’re dealing with rural population health, it’s crucial to consider the unique challenges these communities face.

Varied Health Needs

First, let’s talk about the varied health needs common in rural areas. Many rural populations have limited access to healthcare services. Critical care services, specialized healthcare providers, and facilities offering preventive care and rehabilitation may not be readily available. Therefore, as a nurse, you are going to have to wear many hats and expand your knowledge and skills to fit the needs of your community. Providing healthcare education, advising on preventive care, and managing chronic diseases are all necessary elements of rural nursing. If there are specific health issues crucial within your rural area, such as an increase in diabetes or heart disease, expanding your understanding of these diseases will greatly assist with patient outcomes.

Chronic Disease Prevalence

Rural populations often have a higher prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity compared to their urban counterparts. These conditions require ongoing management, which is often complicated by the barriers rural residents face, such as long travel distances to healthcare facilities and lack of specialized providers. As a nurse in a rural area, it’s essential that you can handle the ongoing care of patients with chronic diseases effectively. In many cases, this means adopting a more holistic approach to patient care, where you don’t just treat the disease but also help patients manage their conditions in the long term. You may find yourself working closely with your patients on lifestyle modifications, medication management, and disease education and monitoring their progress over time. These duties go beyond typical nursing responsibilities and require an extensive understanding of chronic disease management.