Accepting the Challenge and Leadership for Rural Nurses

Rural health care has been met with a multitude of challenges over the last decade. The sphere rural nursing attained recognition, and nurse leaders are making every effort to serve patient staff needs alike. Traveling long distances, time away from facility, lack attention unique these advanced generalists as foundation for curriculum initiative/leadership project. This article showcases project established address advancement leadership skills rural-based nurses in positions. Key points•Due uniqueness nursing, focused support advance professionals is utmost importance.•A initiated Texas can be used template other organizations.•Technology necessary travel engagement concerns working setting. •Due In today’s hectic environment, it crucial stimulated undertake distinctive constraints marked populations while an ever- changing healthcare system.1Gaines C. Jenkins S. Ashe W. Empowering faculty students community service.J Nurs Educ. 2005; 44: 522-525Crossref PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar A renovation high-cost acute setting community-based fundamental controlling expenditures concentrating on complex Texans providers. World Health Organization2World OrganizationHealth Workforce: About Department Human Resources Health.http://www.who.int/hrh/about/en/Date: 2018Date accessed: February 9, 2020Google endorses expectation that will not restricted merely supervising sick or treating chronic disease, but interconnected. Serving trailblazers collaborating various disciplines motivate vulnerable propelling communities their affect policy critical this present environment. Through mandates Patient Protection Affordable Care Act 2010, ongoing recognition cost-effective, evidence-based lowest cost Literature reinforces option patient’s home settings dominant locations deliver preventative primary triggering fewer hospitalizations improved quality life.3Joo J.Y. Community-based case management, hospital utilization, patient-focused outcomes Medicare beneficiaries.West J Res. 2014; 36: 825-844Crossref (10) Scholar,4Patient ActHealthCare.gov.https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act/Date It becomes imperative seek innovative strategies assisting profession meet ever-changing encountered. Additional consideration essential completely analyze mature specialty. McCoy5McCoy Professional development nursing: opportunities.J Cont Ed Nurs. 2009; 40: 128-131Crossref (20) summoned educators strive expand professional essentials nurses. Golden6Golden P. Managing workforce tomorrow’s challenges.Front Serv Manage. 2019; 35: 3-10Crossref demanded given retaining talent ensure daily operations within arena. demands target formal educational preparation opportunities availability continuing education. based According Hospital Association (THA),7Texas AssociationRural Issues.https://www.tha.org/Public-Policy/Issues/Rural-IssuesDate: 2019Date January 21, 70% counties regarded rural. These hospitals greater quantity geriatric uninsured/publicly insured patients than urban hospitals.7Texas Due limited resources, realize they must function multiple roles tackle staff. Rohatinsky et al.8Rohatinsky N. Udod Anonson J. Rennie D.M. M. mentorships care: factors influencing sustainability.J 2018; 49: 322-328Crossref (3) stated “nurses physicians may avoid leave practice due isolation interpersonal ties areas, decreased career mobility opportunities, diminished access resources support.”8Rohatinsky Scholar(p.322) lengthy distances attend conferences, facility when attending served basis employed Ellison,9Ellison A. Closures Hit Record High 2019 – Here’s Why.https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/rural-hospital-closures-hit-record-high-in-2019-here-s-why.htmlDate: 2019Google 119 have closed United States since leading closure statistics 23 facilities. Eighteen closures ensued alone. Ellison9Ellison further elaborated more 600 susceptible consequence financial patient/quality indicators. Cultivating proficiencies characteristics activate culture communities. Association,7Texas deemed provide large population patients.9Ellison constrained find themselves functioning was conceptualized several years beginning 2017 qualitative study conducted report by Gonzales al.10Gonzales Boswell Marquez CNO leadership: study.Nurs 28-33Crossref (1) From information obtained initial study, group individuals began work leaders. Funding challenging. As became increasingly focused, funding through Team, National Students Nurses Foundation, secured. result project, efforts were put into place facilitate which included verification team chief executive officer, board member who academician nurse, 1 expertise, education expertise. yearlong program both face-to-face sessions online issues identified study. topics selected provision emerged along recommendations received officers regularly. discussed, envisioned 4- 5-hour workshop provided 3 sites around state Texas. rationale providing attendees would able arrive at site, workshop, get back 1-day period. They gone day. rest content delivered via platform. Six monthly topics, lasting about hour. all approved credits. coordinated Three chosen grant budget. dividing sections determining most central points each section. towns Plainview, Marlin, Del Rio, planning management setting, implementing nursing-rules scope how utilize them understanding swing bed rules best practice, Experienced asked topic. supports need focus value-driven payments issue. same presenters different sessions. advertised Organization Community Hospitals (TORCH) forum. Each session offered 5 credits no participants, lunch. had tremendous response community. first originally 30 participants registered. number unexpected winter freeze arrived night before session. Nineteen attend. Ten made second 14 third Rio. survey results largely indicated great satisfaction presenters. positive feedback sessions, agreed beneficial coordinate additional if allow. generosity use conference rooms cost, funds available another scheduled Andrews, true any endeavor, common barriers. With implementation difficulties arose restriction full accomplishment planned. One key barrier encountered weather. wintery storm ice snow descended Panhandle region prior planned Plainview. attendance resulted decrease approximately half being arrive. Because funded begin after October, timing impediments. frequently encounters flu season November transitioning until February. end October November. period busy scheduling during hampered some agencies participating challenge inclusion speakers continuity materials presented. Although did even weather issues, only 4 2 At Marlin session, individual presenting aspects could modify his schedule Rio presented life family emergency content. Challenges barriers always potential obstacle overcome. Considering plans changed advancing projects manner. earlier, compromised elect fourth allow those census opportunity benefit believes training safety. such, considering submitting continue enhancement learning objectives future increase leader’s ability effectively communicate agency’s governing resulting meaningful change, explore initiatives promote where live serve. mind, employ questionnaire assess baseline knowledge effective communication styles following assessment tool also collect data participants’ perspective regarding 25 reflect person’s potential. If approved, replicated throughout year run August 2020 July 2021. Planning recruiting summer up 120 participants. Nurse once again include officers, directors anyone organization. carefully thoughtfully consider engage embrace meticulous programs continuous grow maturity regard populations. championed updates responsibilities integrate applicable competencies instigating coaching programs. By organizing teams needed safe types settings, realistic implemented. stipulates navigate many twists turns addressing placed should required technology such platforms colleague learn other. To expect ways accessing we impractical unnecessary. clarifying components paramount successful managing growing found Opening meeting mandatory. one example Minerva Gonzales, DNP, RN, CNE, NE-BC, NPD-BC, associate dean, assistant professor, RN BSN director UT Permian Basin College Nursing Odessa, She reached [email protected] . Carol Boswell, EdD, ANEF, FAAN, James “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation Endowed Chair Evidence-Based Practice, co-director Center Excellence Practice Tech University Sciences School Odessa.