Vaccination perspectives among nurses in a rural, frontier state

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the nursing profession, particularly in rural and frontier states, faced substantial challenges due to vaccine hesitancy. Higher hesitancy among nurses compared to other health professionals may have contributed to elevated infection and death rates in one rural, frontier state.

This study investigated vaccine-related attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions among practicing nurses, faculty, and students in a state heavily affected by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

A cross-sectional online survey assessed nurses' vaccine-related attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions in a rural, frontier state (N = 471).

Significant differences were found in vaccine acceptance (p = .016) and hesitancy (p = .007), with students reporting lower acceptance and greater concerns regarding vaccine safety, ingredients, and long-term side effects than faculty and practicing nurses. Political ideology was also associated with vaccine acceptance and hesitancy (p < .001), with liberal participants demonstrating greater acceptance and lower hesitancy than neutral or conservative participants. Agreement with ANA ethical expectations regarding immunization also differed by role and political ideology.

Although overall vaccine acceptance remained high across most groups, the contrast between ethical expectations to promote vaccination and increased hesitancy among students is concerning. Findings highlight the influence of professional role formation and political ideology on vaccine attitudes and suggest that nursing curricula need to be strengthened in vaccine safety and effectiveness, ethics integration, and the identification of misinformation and disinformation.