Focus groups describe rural nursing in New York state.
Focus groups were conducted at three sites in rural regions of New York state to describe the nature of rural nursing in terms of scope of practice, barriers, needs, and resources. Five nurses from a variety of rural practice settings participated in each group (n = 15), which was led by a nurse facilitator who was a member of the New York State Nurses Association Committee on Rural Nursing. The focus group methodology included a semi-structured format in which three defined questions were circulated before the meeting and addressed in sequence at the meeting according to the established and prearranged agenda. Key characteristics defining the scope of rural nursing included autonomy, flexibility, and creativity. The main needs identified were for accessible education and professional collegial relationships. Resources included the ease of communication without complex structures, interdisciplinary interaction and respect, and the sense of being part of the community in which the practice agency existed. Despite the barriers, these rural nurses received a great deal of satisfaction from their nursing activities and felt that they made a significant contribution to health care in their community. They also had feasible suggestions to address their needs.
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FS
Crosby
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AB
Ogden
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Kerr
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J
Heady
D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D017144:Focus Groups; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York; D011637:Public Health Nursing; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012956:Societies, Nursing