2ND QUARTER • 2024

How well are nursing school programs preparing new nurses to work in the rural setting?  

Going from academia to working in a rural clinical environment is a complex transition that nursing schools must address to ensure that new nurses are ready for the demands of rural healthcare. The University of South Dakota and the University of Texas at Arlington are equipping their nursing students and graduates with the necessary skills and support for success in rural communities. The University of Texas at Arlington opened the United States’ first immersive experience for nursing simulation with a new Igloo Immersion Room that will help nurses learn about rural settings. The University of South Dakota is also actively trying to prepare their student nurses to work in the rural nursing workforce by providing didactic education on Native American populations and clinically immersing students in underserved rural communities. Furthermore, the University of Texas at Arlington has a Rural Graduate Nurse Professional Development program for new, rural nurses to assist them during their first year of employment. (On-Demand Webinars - Global Rural Nursing Exchange Network (grnen.org) (Residency Program | Center for Rural Health and Nursing (uta.edu)

College of Nursing and Health Innovation Podcast

Join Aspen Drude, MBA, Manager of Center for Rural Health and Nursing and Jeffrey Taylor, Interim Assistant Dean of CONHI Enrollment and Student Services, Academic Advising  for 

SEASON 1
"A Rural Health Blueprint". 

SEASON 2
"A Public Health Perspective". 

Find the latest episode here

CLICK HERE to listen to Season 1!

We welcome inquiries about various issues affecting rural health communities! Whether you are part of a large or small team, feel free to raise concerns or questions you may have regarding rural healthcare.  

Please note, this space is not intended for seeking personal healthcare advice. Instead, it is an opportunity to discuss and address common challenges or issues faced by rural populations or rural health professionals. Your questions may even spark discussions or feature in our upcoming newsletters, providing insights that benefit the wider community. 

Click this link to send your question to one of our experts: https://common.forms.uta.edu/view.php?id=2192366

Our Rural Health Liaison Team works directly with each rural community by traveling to various regions in Texas. Engaging with the residents in person allows the team to meet the needs of rural and underserved communities and increase access to quality health care. Join us as we introduce you to the faces and stories behind our mission, celebrating their commitment and the unique contributions they bring to our team.

This quarter we are featuring: Joann Grimes, MSN, RN, CMSRN, Clinical Assistant Professor Undergraduate Nursing BSN – Rural Health Development Team.

Joann serves the Southeast Texas region. She has over 13 years of experience as a registered nurse and joined UTA in 2019 as Adjunct clinical faculty for the Accelerated Online BSN program. 

After receiving her CMSRN certification in 2021, Grimes joined the CONHI Center for Rural Health and Nursing Liaison Team. She has visited well over 40 rural and critical access hospitals in facilities such as Jackson County Hospital District, Limestone Medical Center, and even as far as Valley Regional in South Texas.

Having worked with rural communities, Grimes feels a deep personal connection to the ones she visits and one of the things she loves most about this position is the relationships and partnerships established with the facilities, staff, and community partners.