. This is your opportunity to share observations and opinions. It is important to be aware of what we ‘really’ think.  We all have opinions, biases, and assumptions! We can’t learn and grow optimally without being aware of theseassumptions. 2 pointsAddressed own nursing experience (how long, general area(s) of nursing practice, geographic location (rural, suburban, or urban).  Personal information (family, hobbies, pets, etc. is optional)6pointsShare yourown thoughts-I prefer that you do notreadyour textprior to posting.  This can be either from your personal experience or something you have observed in a clinical situation. Please share your observations regarding the following:1) What have you observed regardinghealth seeking behaviors of individualsyou serve?2) How important iscomfort level with health care providersfor the individuals you serve?3) Is there adequate access to quality health carefor the population you serve as a nurse?4) Does geographic location, as an independent variable, impact the likelihood of health disparities?4) In three sentences or less, share what you believe patient and family centered care includes.5) How do you think nursing practice in rural areas may be different than nursing practice in an urban area? 2pointsWriting quality clarity, organization, appropriate grammar, & sentence structure.  No citation

Discussion

Rural populations experience significant health disparities. The rural population has a lower life expectancy than their urban counterparts. Rural risk factor for health disparities includes lack of excess health care, geographic locations, higher-risk behaviors, and lower socioeconomics (McClure et al., 2018). Resident in these remote areas often has to travel a farther distance to receive high-quality care. Lack of transportation, challenging roads, and extreme weather also makes it harder for people to travel for are care and treatment needed it.

Rural communities view work and health beliefs may be different than non-rural communities. For rural communities, good health is commonly characterized as being able to work, socialize, and maintain independence. Rural population associated health with the ability to work and are less likely to seek care and more likely to delay treatments (Gessert, 2015). Rural resident faces many economic challenges, therefore, prioritize work over health. health needs are usually secondary to work needs (Winters, 2013, p. 6).

Because there is a lack of excess to health, rural communities are more likely to use complementary and alternative therapies to manage chronic illness. 1 in 8 American Americans living in rural areas uses complementary therapies to control chronic illnesses such as diabetics, hypertension, etc. (Amponsah, Tabi, & Gibbison, 2015).  The reasons for using complementary therapy included the high costs of prescribed medications, perceived lack of control of one’s healthcare, and dissatisfaction with healthcare providers ((Gessert, 2015, p. 12).

Question:

What is one health disparity your community faces and what can nurses do to help?

Reference:

Amponsah, W. A., Tabi, M. M., & Gibbison, G. A. (2015). Health Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease and High Blood Pressure among Adults in Rural Underserved Communities. Online Journal of Rural Nursing & Health Care, 15(1), 185208. https://doi-org.ssuproxy.mnpals.net/10.14574/ojrnhc.v15i1.351

Gessert, C., Waring, S., Bailey-Davis, L., Conway, P., Roberts, M., & VanWormer, J. (2015). Rural definition of health: a systematic literature review. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 114. https://doi-org.ssuproxy.mnpals.net/10.1186/s12889-015-1658-9

McClure, K., Jun, J. K., Johnson, C. R., Fischer, P. R., Lu, L., Vy, S., & Knutson, D. (2018). Disparities in rural-vs-urban achievement of millennium development goals in Cambodia: implications for current and future child health. Paediatrics & International Child Health, 38(4), 235243. https://doi-org.ssuproxy.mnpals.net/10.1080/20469047.2018.1515811

Winters, C. A. (2013).  Rural nursing: Concepts, theory, and practice. (4th ed.).  New York:  Springer