Novice Nurse Series: How to Prepare Novice Nurses to Work in Rural Community Hospitals

Nurses stepping into their roles at rural community hospitals often face particular challenges compared to nurses working in urban hospitals. Limited resources, diverse patient populations, staffing shortages, and transportation barriers are just a few of the factors that set rural environments apart. 

A novice nurse may not feel fully trained and equipped to work in these environments. How can nurse educators help them prepare to work effectively in rural settings?

In this Novice Nurse Series, UbiSim is shedding light on the ways nurse educators can teach new nurses how to work with specific populations. 

Understanding the Challenges: Insights from Research

In preparing novice nurses to work in rural community hospitals, research shows that it’s crucial to recognize that effective solutions for recruitment and retention require time, investment, and collaboration across education, healthcare management, and policy sectors. Key strategies include enhancing rural education during undergraduate studies, providing ongoing education, and incorporating active learning methods like simulation to prepare nurses for real-world challenges. Additionally, addressing the stress of unrealistic expectations and ensuring flexible, supportive transition experiences guided by knowledgeable mentors are essential. 

Ways to Help Novice Nurses Prepare for Rural Hospital Work

Expose them to Rural Healthcare During Clinical Rotations

Providing clinical rotations in rural hospitals or clinics can give novice nurses firsthand experience with the realities of rural healthcare. This direct exposure allows them to understand the challenges and develop a sense of the community they will serve. Nurse educators can work with rural healthcare facilities to create partnerships that facilitate these learning experiences.

Help Them Foster Interpersonal Skills

The National Rural Health Association emphasizes that "practice readiness is about more than just clinical skills." In rural settings, where resources are often limited and the nurse-to-patient ratio can be challenging, strong interpersonal skills are crucial. Novice nurses must be prepared to build trust quickly, communicate effectively with a diverse range of patients, and work collaboratively with a smaller healthcare team. Educators can support this development by incorporating communication exercises, cultural competence training, and opportunities for reflective practice into their curricula.

Utilize Virtual Reality

UbiSim, an immersive virtual reality training platform just for nurses, can help prepare novice nurses to work in rural areas by helping them develop confidence, clinical decision-making, clinical competence, communication skills, and autonomy. Scenarios closely mirror real-life situations that enable nurses to practice therapeutic communication and necessary skills.

The University of Buffalo’s School of Nursing is advancing its patient simulation training using UbiSim’s virtual reality-based experiential education to better serve rural and underserved communities. Assistant Professor and Director of Simulation Kelly Foltz-Ramos is leading this initiative to enhance the training of novice nurses in these crucial areas.

Integrate Case Studies

Case studies are an effective tool for preparing novice nurses for rural healthcare. By analyzing real-life scenarios from rural settings, nurses can better understand the unique challenges they might face, such as managing chronic conditions with limited access to specialists or addressing the social determinants of health that are more prevalent in rural areas.

UbiSim’s platform integrates unfolding case studies similar to the NCLEX into simulations, providing a rich learning experience that goes beyond textbook knowledge.

Train in Telehealth and Remote Care

Telehealth is becoming increasingly important in rural healthcare, where access to specialists and advanced care can be limited. Nurse educators can train novice nurses to use telehealth technologies effectively, teaching them how to conduct remote consultations, monitor patients virtually, and collaborate with specialists who may be located far away. Familiarity with telehealth tools can help nurses provide comprehensive care even when resources are limited.

Foster Multidisciplinary Collaboration

In rural hospitals, nurses often work closely with a smaller, multidisciplinary team. Educators can prepare novice nurses by teaching them the importance of collaboration and communication across different healthcare disciplines. This might involve joint training sessions with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, and social workers, to build teamwork skills.

Final Thoughts

Novice nurses don’t have to feel nervous and unprepared to treat patients in rural healthcare settings. With proper training, they can feel confident, compassionate, and competent when working with them. Nurse educators can empower new nurses to overcome their anxieties and deliver high-quality healthcare.