Navigating Nurse Wellness in Rural America

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Rural Health
• Occupational Wellness

Background:

• Increased nurse anxiety and burnout pre- and post-pandemic.
• Identified gap in literature regarding rural nurses' wellness and maintenance strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine current wellness levels of Registered Nurses (RNs) in rural American settings.
• To identify barriers impacting RN wellness maintenance.
• To provide recommendations for enhancing RN wellness in rural areas.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Integrative Health and Wellness Assessment (IHWA) V2 2022 for holistic wellness measurement.
• Survey deployed in 2023 to a large cohort of 6989 clinical nurses, nurse leaders, and advanced practice nurses.

Main Results:

• Overall mean wellness score of 134.72.
• Significant influencing factors included age, years of experience, and professional role.
• Identified barriers: insufficient time, challenging work environment, and family responsibilities.
• Key recommendations focused on improving work environment, stress management, and establishing healthy boundaries.

Conclusions:

• Findings provide actionable insights for leaders to implement interventions supporting rural nurse wellness.
• Promoting nurse wellness is crucial for sustaining the healthcare workforce and ensuring quality patient care.