Recruiting and Retaining Registered Nurses in Rural Community Hospitals: Some Administrative Assessments

The costs and impacts associated with the recruitment and retention of nurses are substantial. In rural areas, these efforts are hampered by the recurring maldistribution of available nurses away from such environments. Based on a survey of 195 directors of nursing (DONs) practicing in rural community hospitals, the authors compare administrative assessments of recruitment and retention efforts of DONs practicing in various-sized rural facilities. Current full-time equivalent registered nurse staff vacancy rates are also reported in relation to these differing assessments.