Rural & Minority Health Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 220 Stoneridge Drive Suite 204, Columbia, SC 29201, United States of America; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States of America.
Rural & Minority Health Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 220 Stoneridge Drive Suite 204, Columbia, SC 29201, United States of America; Department of Health Services Policy & Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States of America.
J Prof Nurs. 2021 Mar-Apr;37(2):404-410. doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.04.008. Epub 2020 May 15.
Multiple professional organizations and institutes recommend the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree as a minimum standard for registered nurse practice. Achieving this standard may be particularly challenging in rural areas, which tend to be more economically disadvantaged and have fewer opportunities for higher educational attainment compared to urban areas.
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.
Data were obtained from the 2011-2015 American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS). The sample included registered nurses (RN) between the ages of 18-64 years (n = 34,104) from all 50 states. Chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between rurality and BSN preparedness and salary across practice settings.
Urban nurses were more likely to have a BSN degree than rural nurses (57.9% versus 46.1%, respectively; p < 0.0001), and BSN preparedness varied by state. In adjusted analysis, factors in addition to residence associated with BSN preparation included age, race, and region of the country. Differences in wages were experienced by nurses across practice settings with urban nurses generally earning significantly higher salaries across practice settings (p < 0.0001).
Strategies to advance nursing workforce education are needed in rural areas and may contribute to improved care quality and health outcomes.
多个专业组织和机构建议护理学理学学士学位（BSN）是注册护士执业的最低标准。与城市地区相比，农村地区经济较为落后，接受高等教育的机会较少，因此达到这一标准可能特别具有挑战性。
我们的主要目的是提供有关农村-城市地区在教育程度方面差异的最新信息。我们还研究了不同实践环境中注册护士的就业类型、薪资和人口统计学方面的农村-城市差异。
数据来自 2011-2015 年美国社区调查（ACS）公共使用微观数据样本（PUMS）。该样本包括来自全美 50 个州、年龄在 18-64 岁之间的注册护士（RN）（n=34,104）。采用卡方检验、t 检验和多变量逻辑回归检验来检验农村和城市与 BSN 准备情况和薪资之间的关系。
与农村护士相比，城市护士更有可能拥有 BSN 学位（分别为 57.9%和 46.1%；p<0.0001），并且 BSN 准备情况因州而异。在调整后的分析中，除居住地外，与 BSN 准备相关的因素还包括年龄、种族和国家的地区。不同实践环境的护士薪酬存在差异，城市护士的薪酬普遍高于不同实践环境中的护士（p<0.0001）。
需要在农村地区制定推进护理劳动力教育的策略，这可能有助于提高护理质量和健康结果。
