Challenging misconceptions about rural nursing placements

Maybe you’ve heard of rural nursing placements and thought, ‘not for me’. But how much do you really know about rural nursing?

Rural placements offer unique learning opportunities for nurses in their final training stages. While heading to the country might sound daunting, many don’t realise these placements can be just an hour from the CBD.

In celebration of International Nurses Day, it’s a great time to bust some of those myths and look at the facts. If you need to complete some placement hours for your Bachelor of Nursing, it's worth knowing the real advantages of training in a rural setting.

What is considered a rural placement?

Popular misconception number one is that a rural nursing placement is a small town that’s super remote and lacking in cosmopolitan comforts.

“When I was about to start my rural placement, I was thinking probably they won’t have that many resources but this hospital is equipped with everything. The help is there, the doctors are always available, so my perception of rural nursing has been changed by coming here”. – Samanpreet Kaur (Bachelor of Nursing), Student Nurse at Tanunda War Memorial Hospital, Barossa Valley.

In reality, the definition of what is considered a ‘rural’ nursing placement varies, with hospitals located in vibrant regional centres or close to capital cities. There are also many different locations to choose from, including friendly communities and some world-heritage tourist destinations.

For example, students in New South Wales or the Australian Capital Territory can volunteer for a placement within the Bateman’s Bay area - an incredible coastal tourist destination known for its pristine beaches, located less than two hours drive from Canberra.

In Victoria, you can choose a placement in picturesque historic communities such Bright, Myrtleford, or Mount Beauty, all nestled in the foothills of the Victorian Alps, a popular region for hiking and skiing. Students in SA can find rural nursing placements in over 65 locations, such as the Barossa Valley region - a beautiful and popular wine-tasting destination, just an hour’s drive from the Adelaide CBD.

“I will always prefer working in rural areas rather than going to the city. The drive to this place is so beautiful, the scenery is so good. I would say, grab the opportunity”. says Samanpreet.

Rural nursing experience

The second greatest misconception about rural nursing is that rural nursing placements don’t offer the same level of valuable practical experience as metropolitan hospitals.

In fact, the opposite is true. In rural placements, you’re able to receive intensive training and mentoring from senior nursing staff, and spend time with patients at the bedside.

Rural hospitals offer a unique chance to learn a broad range of skills

Rural hospitals treat the same types of patients and emergencies as city hospitals and offer the same level of care, from triage to palliative care. As a rural nursing student, you’ll get hands-on experience across specialty areas from medical and surgical wards to community and mental health settings. You’ll work in varied and often challenging environments, supported by diverse care teams.

In fact, you can even potentially learn a broader skill set in a rural placement than you might in a city.

Because rural teams are smaller, nurses often develop broader, more flexible skill sets, and students can take on more responsibility than they might in a city hospital. That’s why many students find rural placements a great way to build both skills and confidence.

“The patient load is less, so we can focus on more things - it gives you more support and more learning experience. We have learned how to do IV antibiotics, IV cannulation, blood transfusions, and how to do triage when someone comes into the emergency department. So as a student, that was a totally new experience. We really get to spend more time learning about one patient”. says Samanpreet.

Rural nursing is patient-focused and community based

Rural nursing overall, is more community and patient-focused than nursing in metropolitan centres, which can be busy and anonymous. Because of the slower pace of rural hospitals, you get to know your patients better, and you receive more instruction time with your mentor or specialist than you would in a busy city hospital.

During your rural nursing placement, you can also take part in cultural training and community activities, like working with Indigenous communities or supporting perinatal groups. So, if you want to practise a style of nursing that’s more personal, community-focused and patient-oriented, rural hospitals are a fantastic place to learn.

Nursing career opportunities in rural areas

For nurses who want more trees and less traffic in their lives, rural nursing offers the potential for a rewarding career.

Demand for nurses is growing across Australia, which will need 85,000 more nurses by 2025 and 123,000 by 2030. However, this shortage is even more acute in rural areas.

Because of this high demand, rural nurses can take on a wide variety of clinical roles, from emergency care to chronic disease management. Some other areas you can focus on as a rural nurse also include:

• Primary care and general nursing
• Maternal and child health
• Remote area nursing
• Community health and health promotion
• Indigenous health
• Aged care
• Outreach programs

Rural nursing comes with benefits like competitive salaries, cheaper housing and a better work-life balance. Smaller healthcare teams also mean more responsibility and faster pathways to promotion and leadership. For those drawn to nature, community impact, and hands-on experience, rural nursing can offer a fantastic alternative to metropolitan hospitals.

“Rural nursing is challenging but rewarding as well. You will gain a lot to learn, and it’s an exciting opportunity. Step out of your comfort zone: your future patients need you”. says Samanpreet.