Characteristics of Rural RNs Who Live and Work in Different Communities.

摘要

Many registered nurses (RNs) living in rural areas of the United States leave their communities to work in other rural and urban communities.1 This trend increased substantially between 1980 and 2004: in 1980, 14% of RNs living in rural areas worked in a different type of rural area or in an urban area compared with 37% in 2004. The majority of these RNs worked in areas that were less rural (larger rural or urban areas) than the rural area types in which they lived.2 The increase in the percentage of rural RNs who travelled to another geographic area type for work occurred despite the finding that the percentage of all RNs who lived in rural areas of the United States changed only slightly between 1980 and 2004 (15% and 18%, respectively). This new study explores person- and communitylevel factors associated with RNs decisions to commute away from their rural areas of residence for work. Rural health care facilities struggle with nurse recruitment and retention, and understanding what affects RNs decisions to work in other communities may help address rural workforce shortages.