Distance education for nurse practitioners: a partial solution

Health professionals who live and practice in rural areas have limited opportunities to further their education. In order to pursue advanced nursing degrees, nurses have to leave their communities. A collaborative distance education project involving the University of New Mexico College of Nursing, the Area Health Education Center, and Western New Mexico University has provided a partial solution to this problem. Six registered nurses living and practicing in a rural site are now receiving their Family Nurse Practitioner degrees via two-way audio/video teleconferencing equipment. Distance education can improve the numbers of primary care providers in rural areas; however, projects will require extensive planning and resources.