Rural areas in the U.S. have fewer nurses per capita than urban areas, and those nurses are more likely to have associate's rather than bachelor's degrees. Given the Institute of Medicine's goal to raise the proportion of registered nurses (RNs) with bachelor's-level degrees to 80% by 2020, research is needed to examine the educational attainment of RNs across the U.S. and explore registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing (RN-to-BSN) program activities to attract, train and place nurse trainees in rural communities.

Publications

• A National Survey of RN-to-BSN Programs: Are They Reaching Rural Students?
  Journal Article
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 10/2020
  This study used a national survey of RN-to-BSN programs to better understand their potential role in addressing disparities in BSN-prepared nurses in rural and urban areas. The results are needed to inform policymakers and stakeholders who are responsible for addressing the status and needs of nursing education.
• RN-to-BSN Programs: Challenges for Rural Nurse Education
  Policy Brief
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 10/2019
  To ascertain the status of rural-focused nursing education, we surveyed registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing (RN-to-BSN) programs. Using an American Association of Colleges of Nursing mailing list, surveys were mailed to all schools with RN-to-BSN programs. This report summarizes responses from the 237 that completed surveys.
• Rural Registered Nurses: Educational Preparation, Workplace, and Salary
  Policy Brief
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 10/2019
  Using national data from census data from the 2011-2015 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample, this brief looks at the reported education levels and worksites of rural and urban registered nurses.
• Rural-Urban Differences in Educational Attainment Among Registered Nurses: Implications for Achieving an 80% BSN Workforce
  Journal Article
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 05/2020
  Our primary objective was to provide updated information on rural-urban differences in educational attainment. We also examined rural-urban differences in employment type, salary, and demographics among registered nurses in different practice settings.