Rural Health Programs

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Hey everyone,

I am looking into Family or Adult NP programs for Fall of 2015. Are there any nursing schools that have concentrations or a reputation for a focus on rural health? I am willing to move anywhere in the continental US and my background is ER nursing.

Thanks in advance!

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I have done research into this but haven't found much beyond Frontier Nursing School and UVA with a rural health care research grant. Any advice is appreciated.

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I found a program rural family nurse practitioner programs at Eastern Kentucky University, Penn State University has a concentration I believe, and I want to see University of Missouri does as well. It seems more schools are adopting this programs, there is definitely a need for it.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

I'm at UTEP and the focus is on a rural/clinical setting for the FNP program, where we are encouraged to seek clinical opportunities in nearby rural New Mexico. We aren't allowed to do any rotations in the hospital. Although El Paso is a large city, the focus on community health is unique, especially in a clinical setting considering our demographics and geography. Even though the program is online, moving here would mean dirt cheap in state tuition. The entire degree is under 20k.

After you graduate you can move to New Mexico, open up a private practice without a physician, and enjoy broad prescriptive authority. NP's there can even prescribe medical cannabis I believe.

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My Spanish is only so-so...I can get through an ER triage and hospital admission but can't explain complicated medical information. How important is it to be fluent if working in NM?

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University of Alabama (NOT USA). They have dual FNP/MHP for rural populations. Program is online and 49 credits. Tuition is like $300-$400/credit hour.

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University of Central Missouri, SW of St. Louis, smallish town. They go by CGPA for the last undergrad degree...and only after that, consider anything else about you. They don't ask for nor accept recommendations, job history/resume, essay--nothing. I was not impressed by this, so though I want rural nursing ,too, I passed them by. They are less expensive than most, esp in-state.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

While it's useful in New Mexico, it's not as crucial as it is in parts of Texas. I notice far more people speak English in New Mexico than they do along the border here in Texas.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Many small hospitals and/or clinics are looking for NPs (ususally FNP) to set up rural health programs through grants. The individual state has rules/regs on how this is to be done. What I would do is advertise myself as an FNP, look for these entities and see if they would like to start a rural health program. Usually they jump at the opportunity because the entire salary for the NP is paid by the rural program and not the hospital/clinic itself.

It''s not an easy set up for you have to strictly adhere to all rules/regs as set forth by the program, but you would be working with almost complete autonomy through your Medical Director of the program.

I did this for many years. And, set up 5 small clinics as rural health programs. The programs I found were almost exclusively in the South and very few in the North. I know (associated with) some NPs who own their rural health clinic and are completely independent.

I cannot help you, however, finding an NP Rural Health program itself as education. I think you've found some good information above.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care, Cardiac Ca.

I grew up in NM. Important. pretty darn important, I might add. If you go, please also challenge the interpreter test, not so bad!

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