Rural-based critical care nursing.

A review of rural-based critical care nursing has demonstrated that quality critical care can be delivered within the constraints of rural practice. The barriers most often found affecting rural care have been described. Proven realistic strategies to these barriers have been delineated. A distinct advantage of rural nursing is the increased amount of change and influence a single nurse can have on the community health care system. The rural nurse manager has the opportunity to create a critical care nursing service with high levels of accountability, that can quickly respond to change, and that produces quality patient care. By accomplishing these goals, rural critical care nurses will leave a meaningful legacy of enhanced lives and improved health for their rural communities.