What are the pros and cons of working in the rural areas?

Trauma Columnist · Feb 2, 2016

I live in central IL but work out in very rural communities in several dialysis clinics. For me:

Pros:

Nice, friendly pts for the most part.

No traffic (except during harvest)

Fairly relaxed environment

Cons:

For me, lots of mileage (I average 55,000miles/year but I travel from one place to another daily)

Sometimes tests are not readily available at small community hospitals or critical access hospitals

In the winter, sometimes the roads can be dicey

Overall, however, you couldn't pay me enough to work in a city and use mass transit - just yucky!

offlabel · Feb 2, 2016

Rural advanced practice is a really neat thing. If you're up to it. If you like to hunt and fish, it's absolutely awesome. If you value your privacy, it's awful. Remember the "Cheers" TV show theme song? "Everyone Knows Your Name"? It's a lot like that. Another odd twist is that there can be practitioners (read:surgeons, in my world) that are hiding out there because of an inability to play nice with others or worse, if you get my drift.

My philosophy is that everyone should at least try it. They might like it and there are good folks that could use the help out there.

twozer0, NP · Feb 2, 2016

As a person who lives in a somewhat rural area I can tell you that it is great. I love the outdoors and what it provides my family. We own a small farmette and raise livestock. The majority of the county I live in is agricultural, there are a TON of farms (mainly dairy and beef). The town I work in which is only a 20 minute drive from my home has a lot of restaurants and shops that allow me to get things done. The town I actually live in has a nice small town feel and has a sense of community, something a lot of people lack now with the information age (always burried in your phone).

I do disagree with Offlabel in the privacy aspect. I pee off my back porch regularly, its very private! You could run around naked at my house and it wouldnt be an issue. I have neighbors but they are all at least 100+ yards away in all directions (I live on 6.5 acres). Everyone might know your name but that might not be a bad thing, especially if your provider pool is low. People will respect you, look up to you for advice. Heck you might even be able to barter your skillset for a side of beef.

If you enjoy traffic, public transportation, opera, small living quarters, no yards, smog, and no social aptness out of people, do the city thing!

If you like space, country kindness, a neighbor to help you bail you out of record snowfall (38.8 inches for my town!, 5 ft in the driveway!), the option to own livestock, gardening, peeing off your back porch, and general freedom, i suggest the country.

xiaobear007 · Feb 3, 2016

Two zero, thanks.... Although I would not recommend pee at my backyard or run naked...

kalycat, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2016

I live in the country and commute to the city. I've lived in several different small towns, and the one I'm in now is amazing. Others, definitely awful. I like living in the country because it's best suited to my lifestyle... But I like working at a trauma center :). Sometimes I have to stay in town if the weather is bad, but it's the perfect hybrid for me. I like restaurants and the arts - things that cities offer, but I had my fill of living there full time. I like being able to hike out my bike door and take photographs, have a garden, and work my dogs and horses. It's a trade off with the drive, but I really don't mind.