title: Distance education for nurse practitioners: a partial solution.
abstract: Health professionals who live and practice in rural areas have limited opportunities to further their education. In order to pursue advanced nursing degrees, nurses have to leave their communities. A collaborative distance education project involving the University of New Mexico College of Nursing, the Area Health Education Center, and Western New Mexico University has provided a partial solution to this problem. Six registered nurses living and practicing in a rural site are now receiving their Family Nurse Practitioner degrees via two-way audio/video teleconferencing equipment. Distance education can improve the numbers of primary care providers in rural areas; however, projects will require extensive planning and resources.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fairbanks
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Viens
mesh_terms: D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D011231:Preceptorship; D012944:Social Support; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000458:organization & administration*