A nurse-led model of care to improve access to contraception and abortion in rural general practice: Co-design with consumers and providers.

AIM: To describe key features of a co-designed nurse-led model of care intended to improve access to early medication abortion and long-acting reversible contraception in rural Australian general practice. DESIGN: Co-design methodology informed by the Experience-Based Co-Design Framework. METHODS: Consumers, nurses, physicians and key women's health stakeholders participated in a co-design workshop focused on the patient journey in seeking contraception or abortion care. Data generated at the workshop were analysed using Braun and Clarkes' six-step process for thematic analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-two participants took part in the co-design workshop. Key recommendations regarding setting up the model included: raising awareness of the early medication abortion and contraceptive implant services, providing flexible booking options, ensuring appointment availability, providing training for reception staff and fostering good relationships with relevant local services. Recommendations for implementing the model were also identified, including the provision of accessible information, patient-approved communication processes that ensure privacy and safety, establishing roles and responsibilities, supporting consumer autonomy and having clear pathways for referrals and complications. CONCLUSION: Our approach to experience-based co-design ensured that consumer experiences, values and priorities, together with practitioner insights, were central to the development of a nurse-led model of care. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: The co-designed nurse-led model of care for contraception and medication abortion is one strategy to increase access to these essential reproductive health services, particularly in rural areas, while providing an opportunity for nurses to work to their full scope of practice. IMPACT: Nurse-led care has gained global recognition as an effective strategy to promote equitable access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. Still, nurse-led contraception and abortion have yet to be implemented andevaluated in Australian general practice. This study will inform the model of care to be implemented and evaluated as part of the ORIENT trial to be completed in 2025. REPORTING METHOD: Reported in line with the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Two consumer representatives contributed to the development of the co-design methodology as members of the ORIENT Intervention Advisory Group Governance Committee.

Reflections of nurses and primary healthcare managers on integrating hospital at home into public primary healthcare services: a Norwegian focus group study.

BACKGROUND: Hospital at home (HaH) is an innovative approach to healthcare delivery that brings specialized services to patients' homes. HaH services are typically available in urban areas where hospitals can easily reach nearby patients. An integrated care model that utilizes the public primary healthcare system may extend HaH services to include patients residing further away from hospitals. However, there is limited evidence of primary healthcare employees' views on integrating HaH care into primary healthcare services. This study aimed to explore the reflections of primary healthcare employees on integrating HaH care into primary healthcare services. METHODS: Ten focus group interviews were conducted with homecare nurses and managers of primary healthcare services in five municipalities in Mid-Norway. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in three key themes regarding the integration of HaH care into primary healthcare. Participants discussed how they capture the distinctiveness of HaH care within the primary healthcare landscape. Moreover, they identified that the introduction of HaH care reveals opportunities to address challenges. Lastly, the study uncovered a strong primary healthcare commitment and a sense of professional pride among the participants. This resilience and dedication among primary healthcare employees appeared as an incentive to make the integration of HaH work. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers valuable insights into integrating HaH into primary healthcare services, highlighting opportunities to address challenges. The resilience and dedication of primary healthcare employees underscore their commitment to adapting to and thriving with HaH care. To establish a sustainable HaH care model, it is important to address geographical limitations, consider the strain on providers, maintain robust relationships, enhance funding, and formalize decision-making processes.

Exploring rural Nurses' preparedness and post-resuscitation experiences. An ethnographic study.

AIM: The focus of this paper is to provide a detailed ethnographic exploration of rural nurses' experiences of their resuscitation preparedness and the subsequent post-resuscitation period. DESIGN: An ethnographic study across two small rural hospital sites in New South Wales, Australia. METHODS: Fieldwork was undertaken between December 2020 and March 2022 and included over 240 h of nonparticipant observation, journalling and interviews. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: The first key theme-'Sense of Preparedness'-included three subthemes: 'Gaining experience', 'Issues with training and education' and 'Lack of warning'. The second key theme 'Aftermath' comprised two subthemes: 'Getting on with it' and 'Making sense of the resus'. CONCLUSION: This study has highlighted the intricate relationship between resuscitative preparedness and the post-resuscitation period in shaping rural nurse's experiences and their well-being. Rural nurses are asking for an authentic and contextually relevant training experience that mirrors the unique rural challenges they experience. In the absence of frequent resuscitation presentations, the post-resuscitation period should be viewed as a crucible moment that can be leveraged as a valuable learning opportunity enhancing rural nurses' sense of preparedness and the provision of quality resuscitation care. IMPACT: Having a greater level of insight into the challenges that rural nurses experience in the pre- and post-resuscitation period is critical. This insight opens the door for fortifying policies and work processes that will better support rural nurses in the resuscitation environment. REPORTING METHOD: Reporting complied with COREQ criteria for qualitative research. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study explored the experiences of rural nurses. No patient data were collected.

The threshold of rural placement frequency and duration: A repeated cross-sectional study examining rural career aspirations among student nurses.

AIM: This study aimed to explore what changes rural placement had on the perceptions of nursing students and the impact of placement frequency and duration on student considerations for rural practice. BACKGROUND: A strong rural healthcare workforce is a global concern and has led countries to look for creative ways to address this challenge. One approach is to train more health professionals, however, nursing students who grew up or lived in metropolitan or urbanised areas are suggested to be less inclined to pursue a rural career. As such it is posited that recurrent exposure to rural settings may exert a positive impact on future intention for rural practice. However, there is a need to explore the specific thresholds related to both the frequency and duration of rural placement exposure, as well as the cumulative impact multiple rural placements may have on the intention to engage in rural practice. DESIGN: A repeated cross-sectional design. METHODS: All nursing students from an Australian regional university were invited to complete an online questionnaire between 2019 and 2023. Demographic and placement specific questions were included. A modified version of the Nursing Community Apgar tool also measured the importance of key variables in rural career decision-making. Data were analysed using independent sample t-tests and one-way ANOVAs. Significance was determined at two-tailed p≤.05. RESULTS: Among the 835 respondents (response rate 15.4%), the average number and duration of rural placements was 2.45 placements and 3.01 weeks respectively. Rural placements did not have an impact on students who resided rurally or regionally. However, among metropolitan students who had experienced more than three rural placements, or more than sixteen cumulative weeks of placement, were significantly more likely to consider rural employment. Greater number of rural placements and longer cumulative duration had the greatest impact. CONCLUSION: Issues related to the nursing rural workforce are dynamic and complex. Understanding the unique drivers that improve the rural experiences among students, particularly metropolitan students, can have an impact on decision-making to pursue employment in rural environments. Importantly, whilst professional and clinical motivation and experiences are influential factors, the socialisation, environment and community features are essential elements that influence students' decisions to pursue a career in rural practice. Undertaking a nuanced approach that facilitates rural practice understanding among students may help shape future employment decision-making.

Clinical education models in rural practice settings: A scoping review.

AIM: The objective of this review is to identify and synthesize the literature on clinical nursing education models in rural settings, with the goal of developing a better understanding of effective clinical education models suitable for rural nursing education. BACKGROUND: Clinical education is an integral part of nursing education, yet very little clinical education occurs in rural and remote areas. This leaves the rural landscape vulnerable to inadequate health care staffing because many graduates will begin their nursing practice in the geographical areas where they studied. The rural nursing workforce is currently insufficient to meet the health care needs of rural populations. This insufficiency is likely to worsen because statistical trends suggest that rural and remote communities might be among the worst affected by the global nursing shortage. Many new graduate nurses are ill prepared for rural nursing practice, primarily due to limited exposure to rural nursing content and rural clinical experiences in their entry-to-practice education. Increasing opportunities for nursing students to learn in rural clinical settings will likely support the recruitment and retention of nurses in rural practice. Despite the key role of rural nursing education in sustaining the rural health workforce, little is known about rural clinical learning in nursing education. DESIGN: A scoping review. METHODS: This scoping review was conducted using the steps outlined by Arksey and O'Malley with updated methodological guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: Of 1880 potential data sources, 82 were included in data analysis. Although no distinct model of rural clinical nursing education could be identified, several features of clinical nursing education were described in the context of rural clinical learning. Preceptorship was the most used mentorship/clinical supervision model (n=41). The most common placement design was a block model design (n=41) lasting between one and 16 weeks, with most learners engaging in episodic care with individual clients (n=42). Interestingly, 24 sources reported learners engaging in rural clinical education across multiple contexts (e.g., acute care, home care, and primary care). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest there exists great variability in rural clinical learning opportunities for nursing students. Academic practice partnerships could continue to be leveraged to provide learners with rural clinical education that meets the needs of both the educational institution as well as the rural communities in which learning takes place. An area of further research would be to focus on formal evaluation of the effectiveness of clinical education models in the rural context.

Educating nursing students for sustainable future rural health-care services: An umbrella review.

BACKGROUND: Rural nursing education stands as a way to contribute to a sustainable nurse workforce in rural areas. Different approaches to organizing rural nursing education are described in the existing literature. OBJECTIVE: To explore scientific reviews about rural nursing education and synthesize current knowledge as "best practice" recommendations for rural nursing education regarding the required organization of rural nursing education programs, what are the competencies required to function as a nurse in rural health-care settings, and the key environmental features for learning in rural nursing education programs. DESIGN: An umbrella review. PARTICIPANTS: Nursing students, newly graduated nurses, and clinical supervisors involved in nursing education in rural areas. DATA SOURCES: A systematic literature search was conducted. Of the 276 review articles found, 93 were screened by title and abstract and 27 were screened in full text. The period searched was 2000-2022, and the literature search was peer-reviewed and published. REVIEW METHODS: The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for umbrella reviews guided the design, search, and the reporting of the findings of the included reviews. Four reviewers screened for inclusion and exclusion using Covidence in a double blinded process. The analysis was guided by the JBI guidelines for umbrella review syntheses. Two reviewers conducted the analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen reviews were included; eight scoping reviews, six integrative reviews, one narrative review, and one rapid review. The synthesis of current evidence provides the following "best practice" suggestions: (a) fostering context-sensitive and collaboratively designed education environments is recommended; (b) integrating curricula tailored for the nursing role and rural practice is recommended (c) establishing a supportive learning environment that encourages students' motivation and academic success; and (d) clinical placements in locally developed learning settings address the educational needs required for practice in the rural workforce. CONCLUSIONS: Rural nursing education needs to be properly aligned with the context and health-care development, to educate nurses who can meet the community's needs today and in the future. A well-functioning collaboration between university faculty and local community stakeholders in a co-creation process stands out as vital to build a sustainable, flexible, rural nursing education program. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Umbrella review: Flexible, co-created education might be "best practice" in rural undergraduate nursing programs.

Creating 'good' hospital to home transfers in the rural north of Sweden: informal workarounds and opportunities for improvement.

Hospital to home transfers for older people require effective communication, coordination and collaboration across multiple service settings. Rural Nursing Theory and the Beyond Periphery model explain why this is particularly difficult in rural areas, but there are few examples of how rural services respond. This paper presents a case study of the district of Tärnaby in the inland north of Sweden. Data are drawn from interviews with health and care staff in Tärnaby, observations, and experiences of the researchers. Data were analyzed thematically, with four main themes emerging - role clarity, communication, geography, and understanding of the rural context. Responses to challenges included increasing opportunities for communication between service providers and improving documentation. The paper concludes that informal "workarounds" run the risk of further disconnecting rural service settings from "the city". Rather, the aim needs to be to improve contextual understanding through formally incorporating "the rural" in service design.

The learning needs and clinical requirements of post graduate critical care nursing students in rural and regional contexts: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to establish the learning needs and clinical requirements of postgraduate critical care nursing students preparing for clinical practice in rural and regional contexts. REVIEW METHOD USED: Scoping review. DATA SOURCES: Published and unpublished empirical studies. REVIEW METHODS: A scoping review based on database searches (CINAHL and Medline) using Aromataris and Munn's four-step search strategy, plus subsequent forward reference search strategy was undertaken, applying predetermined selection criteria. The review aligned to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Review. Studies were uploaded into Endnote 20© for storage and into Covidence 2.0© for data extraction. Screening was undertaken by a primary reviewer, with a secondary reviewer evaluating the studies identified as relevant by the first reviewer. Qualitative codes were derived, and reflexive thematic analysis synthesised the results of the review, using Braun and Clarke's six-phase process. RESULTS: Nine foundational learning needs for critical care nursing students were extracted from the literature. The nine established foundational learning needs were: behavioural attributes/personal base; critical thinking and analysis; ethical practice; identification of risk; leadership, collaboration, and management; professional practice; provision and coordination of clinical care; research knowledge, standards of care, and policy development; and the health consumer experience. Discerning learning needs specific to rural and regional critical care nursing students was difficult. Only one study that met the inclusion criteria was identified. This study identified some instances of interest in relation to rural and regional learning needs. These instances were related to preparation of rural students for low-volume, high-stake situations; transfer of critically ill patients; stabilisation and preparation of critically ill patients; and care of specific patient groups such as, critically ill, bariatric, paediatric, obstetric, trauma, and patients with behavioural issues. CONCLUSIONS: Limited literature exists within the rural and regional critical care nursing educational context, making it difficult to determine the unique learning needs of students within this group. This scoping review lays the groundwork for further research into the needs of critical care nursing students situated within the rural and regional context.

Evidence-based models of rural palliative care: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Forty-five percent of the world's population lives in rural areas, yet their access to palliative care is quite limited. Identifying the care elements rural populations with palliative care needs require is critical to improving care outcomes. AIM: To identify the key care elements that optimise palliative care for people in rural communities. DESIGN AND DATA SOURCES: A systematic review of articles studying the impact of novel rural model of care interventions was undertaken in May 2022. This study is reported using the PRISMA Statement and was registered with Prospero (CRD42020154273). Three databases were searched, and the data analysed according to Popay's narrative synthesis, and elements classified using the WHO Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions (ICCC) Framework. RESULTS: Of the 9508 identified papers, 15 met the inclusion criteria, reporting on 14 studies involving 1820 rural patients. Care received spanned 12/18 of the WHO ICCC Framework elements, with wide variability in how these elements were operationalised. The five elements that signal improved outcomes were: (1) Promote continuity and coordination; (2) Prepared, informed and motivated health care teams; (3) Prepared, informed and motivated patients and families; (4) Organise and equip health care teams and (5) Promote consistent financing. CONCLUSIONS: A well-coordinated multidisciplinary team approach, led by clinicians with specialist palliative care expertise, integrated across local health care settings, using information systems and care planning, is critical to optimising rural palliative care patient outcomes. Rural patients and their families require timely input from specialist palliative care clinicians and information to address their needs.Prospero registration ID: CRD42020154273 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=154273.

Quality of care during rural care transitions: a qualitative study on structural conditions.

BACKGROUND: Registered nurses are critical for the delivery of high-quality healthcare during care transitions from hospital to home. Older co-morbid patients are most vulnerable during these transitions. A growing population of older adults with a higher prevalence of diseases implies increased demands on healthcare and its quality, which is affected by the environment where healthcare is provided. One can draw inferences on the quality of care when classified into structure, process, and outcome. This study explored registered nurses' perspectives on structural conditions that promote or hinder good quality care during transitions from hospital to home healthcare in rural areas. METHODS: We conducted a reflexive thematic analysis of interviews with 21 registered nurses experienced in care transitions from hospital to home healthcare in a rural area of Sweden. We based the theoretically driven analysis on Donabedian's definition of structures regarding the quality of care. RESULTS: The structural conditions were represented by three themes; (I) "Distances and inaccessibility" explains physical matters such as geographical (in)accessibility, bed (un)availability and electronic aids. (II) "Competence of the actors" explains continuity, knowledge and collaboration among the individuals involved. (III) "Levels of organizational governance" explains laws, expectations, values, and agreements regarding care transitions. All themes involved promoting and hindering factors, mutually influencing aspects of the others. CONCLUSIONS: Care actors, educators, managers, and decision-makers need to understand how structures in the physical, social and symbolic environment interactively affect the quality of care during care transitions since understanding this is a prerequisite for improvements. These aspects must be considered to optimize conditions for high-quality care transitions from hospital to rural home healthcare and implemented continuously to improve transitions within the respective organization and inter-organizationally. According to this study, these aspects are critical in a rural context due to structural care quality influencers such as geographical challenges, difficulties in finding competent staff members, development of technical devices, and access to the Internet.

Cuidados del adulto mayor que reside en zonas montañosas: importancia del conocimiento del profesional de enfermería

El cuidado en enfermería debe abordarse desde una perspectiva holística que permita cubrir las necesidades reales de los pacientes en su entorno. El enfermero tiene entre sus funciones la de ayudar al anciano enfermo o sano a realizar las actividades que contribuyen a su salud, a la recuperación o una muerte tranquila en la comunidad. Este artículo tiene como objetivo reflexionar sobre el papel que juegan los enfermeros en la atención al adulto mayor que reside en zonas montañosas y la importancia que recobra el elevar los conocimientos de esos profesionales en este sentido.

Nursing care must be approached from a holistic perspective that allows covering the patients' real needs in their environment. One of the functions of the nurse is to help the sick or healthy elderly person to carry out the activities that contribute to their health, recovery or a peaceful death in the community. This article aims to reflect on the role that nurses play in caring for the elderly who live in mountainous areas and the importance of increasing these professionals' knowledge of in this regard.

Patients' experiences of living with a stoma in rural areas in Northern Sweden.

Introduction: Stoma complications are common and interfere with many aspects of everyday life. Stoma problems are usually managed by a specialised stoma nurse, a service not present in the rural areas of South Lapland in Sweden. The aim of this study was to describe how stoma patients in rural areas experience living with a stoma.Methods: A qualitative descriptive study with semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 stoma patients living in rural municipalities and who received a part of their care at the local cottage hospital. Qualitative content analysis was employed.Results: Initially, the stoma was experienced as very depressing. Participants had difficulties in properly managing the dressing. Over time they learned how to properly care for their stoma, making their life easier. Both satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the healthcare were experienced. Those who were dissatisfied expressed a lack of competence in dealing with stoma-related problems.Conclusions: Living with a stoma in a rural area in northern Sweden is experienced as a learning process and acceptance of the stoma's existence is important. This study emphasises the need for increased knowledge of stoma-related problems in rural primary healthcare in order to help patients cope with everyday life.

Impacto del confinamiento domiciliario por COVID-19 en población con diabetes tipo 2 de una zona rural / Impact of home confinement due to COVID-19 in the population with Type 2 diabetes of a rural area

Objetivo: determinar el impacto del confinamiento domiciliario por la pandemia de COVID-19 sobre el control de la hemoglobina glicosilada (Hb1Ac) y el riesgo cardiovascular de personas diabéticas residentes en una zona rural de Cataluña, así como su autopercepción del control de la enfermedad.Método: estudio descriptivo longitudinal retrospectivo con personas diagnosticadas de DM2 usuarias de los servicios de Atención Primaria del Institut Català de la Salut, en el área rural del Ripollés (Cataluña, España). Se recogieron datos de la historia clínica sobre: Hb1Ac, riesgo cardiovascular (según la ecuación Framingham-REGICOR), edad, sexo, tabaquismo, tensión arterial, peso, índice de masa corporal y variables bioquímicas; tanto antes como después del confinamiento y se compararon. Además, se les administró un cuestionario ad hoc sobre salud autopercibida.Resultados: participaron N= 233 personas con una edad media de 69,8 (DE: 10) años, mayoritariamente hombres (56,2%) y no fumadores (90,3%). El 46,3% tenía un buen control de Hb1Ac preconfinamiento que aumentó al 48,1% (p= 0,555). No se detectaron diferencias significativas entre el promedio de HbA1c antes (7,26; DE: 1,17) y después (7,28; DE:1,23) del confinamiento. La mayoría de los participantes tenía un riesgo cardiovascular medio (51,4%) o alto (25,7%) y aumentó 0,11 puntos posconfinamiento (p= 0,307). El 18% de los encuestados (N= 42) percibió un empeoramiento del control de la DM2 tras el confinamiento, principalmente debido al sedentarismo (42,8%) y a cambios en la dieta (21,4%).Conclusiones: el confinamiento no generó impacto en los niveles de Hb1Ac en el riesgo cardiovascular, ni en la autopercepción del manejo de la DM2 de los pacientes con diabetes de un área rural.(AU)

Objective: to determine the impact of home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the control of glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb1Ac) and cardiovascular risk in diabetic persons living in a rural area of Catalonia, as well as their self-perception of disease controlMethod: a descriptive longitudinal retrospective study with persons diagnosed with T2D and users of the Primary Care services of the Institut Català de la Salut, in the rural area of Ripollés (Catalonia, Spain). Data were collected from clinical records about: Hb1Ac, cardiovascular risk (according to the Framingham-REGICOR equation), age, gender, smoking, blood pressure, weight, body mass index and biochemical variables, both before and after lockdown; and they were compared. Besides, an ad hoc questionnaire on self-perceived health was administered.Results: the study included N= 233 persons with a mean age of 69.8 (SD: 10) years, mostly male (56.2%) and non-smoking (90.3%). Of these, 46.3% had good control of their Hb1Ac before the confinement, which increased to 48.1% (p= 0.555). No significant differences were detected between the average HbA1c before (7.26; SD: 1.17) and after the confinement (7.28; SD:1.23). The majority of participants had medium (51.4%) or high cardiovascular risk (25.7%), and this increased by 0.11 points post-confinement (p= 0.307). There was a perception of worsening in their T2D after the confinement by 18% of participants (N= 42), mainly due to sedentarism (42.8%) and changes in their diet (21.4%).Conclusions: lockdown did not generate any impact on Hb1Ac levels in cardiovascular risk, or in the self-perception of T2D management of patients with diabetes in a rural area.(AU)

Standing alone on the frontline. The meaning of being a nurse in the archipelago-A phenomenological hermeneutical study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to illuminate the meaning of being a nurse in the archipelago. METHODOLOGICAL DESIGN AND JUSTIFICATION: A phenomenological hermeneutical design was applied, as there is a need to understand the lifeworld and the meaning of being a nurse in the archipelago. ETHICAL ISSUES AND APPROVAL: Approval was granted by the Regional Ethical Committee and local management team. All participants provided consent to participate. RESEARCH METHOD: Individual interviews were conducted with 11 nurses (Registered Nurses or primary health nurses). The interviews were transcribed, and the text was analysed by means of phenomenological hermeneutical method. RESULTS: The analyses ended in one main theme: Standing alone on the frontline, and three themes: 1. Combating sea, weather and the clock with the sub-themes: Fighting to give care to patients despite harsh conditions and Fighting against time; 2. Standing firm but wavering with the sub-themes: Embracing the unexpected and Calling out for support; and 3. Being a lifeline throughout the entire lifespan with the sub-themes: Having responsibility for the islanders and Having an intertwined private and work life. STUDY LIMITATIONS: The interviews may be considered few, but the textual data were rich and assessed suitable for the analysis. The text may be interpreted differently, but we deemed our interpretation as more probable than others. CONCLUSION: Being a nurse in the archipelago means standing alone on the frontline. Nurses, other health professionals and managers need knowledge and insight about working alone and the moral responsibilities thereof. There is a need to support the nurses in their lonely work. Traditional means of consultations and support could preferably be supplemented by modern digital technology.

Developing wound services through digitising wound assessment: the benefits and challenges in a rural community nursing service.

The documentation of wound assessments are an integral part of the holistic care of a patient and form the foundation of effective wound care. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about challenges in delivering services. Telehealth was at the forefront of the agenda in many organisations, but within wound care services the physical interaction between clinician and patient needed to continue. With the nurse staffing crisis hitting most areas, there is an ongoing threat to deliver safe and effective care. The aim of this study was to review the benefits and challenges of digital wound assessment technology in clinical practice. The author looked at reviews and guidance on the integration of technology within clinical practice. It was found that utilising digital tools in daily practice can empower clinicians in many ways. The most immediate aim of digitised assessment would be to streamline documentation and assessment processes. However, there are multiple factors in embedding this type of technology into daily practice that can cause challenges, dependent on clinical area and clinician uptake.

A Scoping Literature Review of Rural Beliefs and Attitudes toward Telehealth Utilization.

The purpose of this scoping literature review was to understand what is known about how the rural profile influences beliefs regarding telehealth utilization. Rural nursing theory (RNT) provided a framework for the review. Search criteria were limited to peer-reviewed studies conducted in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. A variety of search terms related to patient telehealth perceptions generated 213 unique articles, of which 10 met the inclusion criteria. Included studies incorporated qualitative methodologies and were from Australia, Canada, Sweden, or the United States. The review highlighted four themes related to the rural profile's influence on telehealth beliefs: importance of familiar relationships, concerns with privacy and confidentiality, acceptance of limited access to care, and resourcefulness and frugality. These themes echo concepts within RNT. Nurses and other health professionals must acknowledge the rural profile's influence on a person's decision to use telehealth in order to provide optimal care.

'Staying strong': A constructivist grounded theory of how registered nurses deal with the impact of trauma-related events in rural acute care practice.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study explored how Registered Nurses (RNs) in rural practice deal with psychologically traumatic events when living and working in the same rural community over time. BACKGROUND: Rural RNs who are exposed to trauma may be at high risk for psychological distress (e.g. secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder), in the context of isolated practice and slower emergency response times. DESIGN AND METHODS: Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory methodology was chosen for this qualitative study. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 19 RNs from six rural acute care hospitals. A total of 33 interviews were conducted with 19 face-to-face initial interviews, 14 follow-up telephone interviews and 14 reflective journals. Adherence to the COREQ EQUATOR guidelines was maintained. RESULTS: Participants were exposed to a multitude of trauma-related events, with their main concern of being intertwined with events for life. They dealt with this by staying strong, which included relying upon others, seeking inner strength, attempting to leave the past behind and experiencing transformational change over time. Being embedded in the community left them linked with these trauma-related events for life. Staying strong was a crucial element to their ability to cope and to face future events. CONCLUSIONS: The psychological implications of trauma-related events when working and living in rural acute care practice settings are significant and complex. Findings highlight the need for organizational support and processes and may contribute to improved psychological services and management practices. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Key learnings were that rural nurses, who live and work in the same community, experience psychological changes over time from traumatic events that stay with them for life; employers fail to recognise the seriousness of this issue and trauma-informed policies with associated resources are lacking.

Experiences of rural and remote nurses during and following disasters: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Rural and remote nurses are often involved in disaster response. These nurses are faced with unique challenges in their daily practice due to geographical isolation and reduced resources. Nurses' roles and experiences in times of disaster have been discussed in the past; however, in the setting of rural and remote areas it remains largely underreported. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the literature regarding the experiences of rural and remote nurses during and following disasters. Disasters affect all areas of the world. METHODS: This scoping review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework for scoping reviews. Electronic databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane, Joanna Briggs Institute and Embase were searched. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist was used to guide the reporting of this review. Key concepts and themes were identified using Braun and Clarke's six-step framework for thematic analysis. RESULTS: Eight articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. Themes that were identified included disaster roles, pre-disaster preparations, psychological and emotional states, and community involvement and relationships. CONCLUSION: Minimal literature exists that explores what rural and remote nurses experience in times of disaster. In this review, the experience of rural and remote nurses included the relationships between their personal and professional obligations and their influence on nurses' ability to respond to disasters. Further research is required in this domain to better understand the phenomena and address knowledge gaps that exist in the existing literature.

Nursing students' experiences of health screening in rural areas of southern Turkey: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: Individuals in rural areas live with healthcare disadvantages relating to, for example, access to health institutions, necessary treatments, and healthcare professionals during medical emergencies. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences, beliefs and attitudes of nursing students to identify advantages and disadvantages of health screening in several rural areas in rural Turkey. METHODS: Health screening practices with senior nursing students were conducted in six rural areas. A qualitative descriptive study was performed using thematic analysis of open-ended responses to a web-based survey of 34 students aged 18 years and over. This study was conducted in March and April 2020. RESULTS: The practices of nursing students in rural areas included measuring vital signs, body mass index calculation, blood glucose and cholesterol measurement, depression screening, cancer screening and health education. Students undertook various health screening practices in rural health care including colorectal cancer screening, evaluation of scales used in diabetes and depression risk. Characteristics referred to by student nurses as part of public health nursing roles were protector, advocate, supporter, caregiver, coordinator, collaborator, educator, counsellor, researcher, therapist, case manager, leader and care provider. The main themes generated related to student emotions, feedback of screening participants to nursing students, positive nursing characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of doing health screening in rural areas, benefits of working with health professionals to nursing student education, and feedback for nursing educators and researchers. CONCLUSION: Participants recognised their emotions, and the benefits and advantages of health screening practices, and disadvantages were determined across the themes. Health services should be planned by taking these experiences into account in health screenings to be carried out in rural areas.

Exploring the nursing student experience at a remote Australian university campus: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Nurses constitute most of the rural and remote Australian health workforce, however staff shortages in these regions are common. Rural exposure, association, and undertaking rural clinical placements can influence health students' decision to work rurally after graduation, however attending university in rural and remote regions has been shown to be a great contributor. An improved understanding of these nursing students' experiences may inform changes to teaching and support strategies for these students, which in turn could improve their retention and completion rates, contributing to a more sustainable rural and remote Australian nursing workforce. This study aimed to explore and describe students' experiences of studying nursing in the context of a satellite university campus located in a remote town, with a focus on education delivery methods, staff, support, student services, and barriers and enablers to successful study. METHODOLOGY: Nine students participated in this qualitative descriptive study. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken, allowing participants to reflect on their experiences as nursing students in the context of a geographically remote satellite university campus. The resulting data were grouped into common themes and summarised. RESULTS: Students were generally positive regarding lectures delivered by videoconference or recorded lectures, as they allowed for greater flexibility which accommodated their busy personal lives. Face-to-face teaching was especially valuable, and students were particularly positive about their small cohort size, which enabled the creation of strong, supportive relationships between students, their cohort, and teaching and support staff. However, barriers related to student demographics and some difficulties with course engagement and campus staffing were experienced. CONCLUSIONS: The experiences of nursing students at remote university campuses are different from those experienced by traditional, metropolitan university students. Although these nursing students face additional barriers unique to the remote campus context, they benefit from a range of enabling factors, including their close relationships with other students, staff, family, and their local community.