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What Is a Rural Nurse?
Rural Nurse at a glance
Where you’ll work: Rural hospitals, clinics, public health departments, home health, hospice and palliative care and social services organizations.
What you’ll do: Provide care in rural locations that may have limited access to comprehensive healthcare.
Minimum degree required: ADN or BSN to earn your RN license is all you need to get started as a rural nurse.
Who it’s a good fit for: Since there are less staff in rural settings, nurses tend to perform a greater breadth of care rather than specialize. You’ll also likely get to form closer relationships with patients because there are fewer people to treat.
Job perks: You get to be an integral part of the community and see the impact you make. Rural locations also tend to have a lower cost of living than urban or suburban areas.
Opportunities if you pursue a higher degree or certification: Having a more advanced nursing degree like a BSN or MSN could make you an incredibly valuable asset in a rural location, where it can be more difficult to access higher education opportunities.
Median annual salary: $77,600
Unlike other types of nurses, rural nurses are defined by where they work, not their specialty. In fact, they can be considered on the opposite end of the spectrum from specialized nurses because they need to be generalists.
In this Article
Job Description | Education | Licenses and Certifications | Salary | Career Outlook | Professional Resources
“In a rural area, nurses deal with whatever and whoever comes through the door,” says Dayle Sharp, PhD, DNP, MPH, FNP-BC, APRN, president-elect of the Rural Nurse Organization. “You may help deliver a baby at 9 a.m. and help someone die at 11 a.m.”
There is no specific rural nursing certification, and you can join this field with an associate degree and a registered nurse (RN) license. Since rural communities typically have fewer medical resources, “you have to be creative,” Sharp says. You’ll need problem-solving skills, a willingness to get to know people on a personal level, and flexibility to thrive as a rural nurse.
What Do Rural Nurses Do?
“There are definitely differences between rural nursing and nursing in an urban area or major medical center,” Sharp says. Nurses in cities or suburban towns typically focus on one department, such as orthopedics or labor and delivery. They may work with other specialists, such as phlebotomists or IV teams, instead of performing those tasks themselves. In addition, patients come to them.
Rural nursing is different in these ways:
A Day in the Life: Rural Nurse
“Rural nurses don’t do the same thing over and over; they do a little bit of everything,” Sharp explains. You’ll work in isolated areas in facilities with small numbers of staff, requiring you to perform duties that might be taken on by specialists in more populated areas. The variety gives nurses the chance to practice all the skills learned in nursing school. What’s more, you may take on more responsibility than RNs typically do in urban settings.
For example, it may take an on-call doctor awhile to arrive to the hospital, which means the nurses already there do whatever is needed. They may end up stabilizing a trauma patient before they are transferred to a better equipped hospital, for instance. “Rural nurses are so well trained and so are ready for emergencies,” Sharp says.
Where You’ll Work
Rural nurses can work in different settings. These are the workplaces you might consider:
What Education Do I Need?
Typically, rural nurses are RNs. Roughly 4 out of 5 rural nurses have an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), with the remainder holding bachelor’s degrees. In some cases, rural hospitals pay for your education so you can bring additional expertise to the job.
Some rural nurses decide to use their undergraduate education and license as an RN as a launching pad to pursue additional education, earning a BSN or a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Those who choose the post-graduate route may consider becoming a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist. You may also work as a nurse educator. These three advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) positions typically involve more responsibility and can position you for leadership opportunities. Salaries are also typically higher for these advanced nurses.
Is Rural Nursing Right for Me?
“Unless you’re from an urban area, you might not know about the opportunities in rural nursing,” Sharp says. She wants to change that.
Rural nursing isn’t for everybody, though. These are the personality traits and skills you need to succeed as a rural nurse:
Licenses and Certifications
Currently, there is no specific certification for rural nursing. A RN license is all you need to begin your career.
For those who want to pursue a career in rural public health, it can be a good idea to earn a bachelor’s degree and, eventually, earn a Certified Public Health (CPH) credential from the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t track the pay of rural nurses specifically, but they do track that of RNs as a whole. Registered nurses earn a median salary of $77,600, according to the BLS.
“Rural nurses get lower pay than those in an urban or suburban setting,” Sharp says. “This is mostly because healthcare facilities there don’t have as much money and have to do more with less.” As a result, advanced degrees or certifications don’t always translate into raises.
That said, living expenses are typically lower in rural areas. That means that the difference in salary between rural and urban nurses may not amount to as much if you factor in cost of living.
Career Outlook
Sharp is very clear about the demand for rural nurses: “We need more because there are not enough nurses in rural communities,” she says. She explains that nursing students are more likely to want to work in bustling medical centers.
That said, people in high-need areas are more likely to have access to nurse practitioners than those in more affluent, healthier areas, according to a study by researchers at the University of Michigan. The findings paint a picture of opportunity for rural nurses who want to go on to become NPs—and have a big impact.
Sharp is quick to emphasize the rewards of rural nursing, which she says many students don’t know about. “Rural nurses tend to have even more of a commitment to patients, their community, and their colleagues,” she says. “You get to be part of the community—and part of the solution.”
Professional Resources
If you are interested in rural nursing, consider exploring these groups for insight and information.
The Rural Nurse Organization advocates on behalf of nurses and patients for quality healthcare in rural communities.
The National Rural Health Association provides advocacy, research, and education on issues particular to the rural U.S.
