Implications Rural health disparities are present in a variety of ways: educationally, socially, economically, etc. With attention to these obstacles health care professionals care begin to understand the needs of rural America It is important to first understand what is needed: why is there a problem? What are contributing factors? What can be done by health care professionals to address these problems?

Implications Rural America represents a significant portion of the population – 25% Addressing the health care needs should be a primary focus as they represent a group that experiences decreased health care options but increased governmental aid Initiating early interventions can decrease costs of and need for acute care Early intervention has proven to be a key factor in maintaining health. It is important to begin early education especially for this group to decrease risky behaviors (e.g. drunk driving, smoking, etc.). Doing so is more cost effective and will benefit long term health.

Recommendations It is important for nurses and health care professionals to be able to identify what puts a person at risk for health disparities Nurses that work in rural communities should make an effort to understand cultural characteristics Once a risk for health disparity is identified health care workers may need to focus special attention on the community in question By identifying a problem health care professionals are then able to begin to address it in a systematic, informed way. This allows nurses to identify what factors can be modified, what factors should be modified, and how the modifications should be made. Nurses from urban areas especially should be sure to understand cultural norms as they may be different and contributing factors to poor health in rural areas.

Recommendations Rural areas have great risk for health disparity. Nurses are able to close the gap somewhat: Primary care providers (e.g. advance practice nurses) may provide primary care to rural areas Nurses are able to raise funding for health care in rural areas Nurses are able to provide community nursing to rural areas with focus on disease prevention, management of chronic diseases, and health promotion Nurses can draw national attention to health disparities among the rural community Some basic, but effective nursing interventions are listed. This would increase access to health care, education concerning health care, decrease health care costs, and help to eliminate health disparities.

Recommendations As interventions are made it is important to conduct follow up research: Did the intervention work? Before, during, and after the intervention the worker should make an effort to review comparable situations and the success or failure of those situations Follow up care should always be remembered in nursing. This gives insight to effective measures, what interventions should be modified (and how they should be modified), the need for continuation of interventions, and offers suggestions for similar cases.

Conclusion Rural areas are at high risk for health disparities related to many factors such as geography, culture, socioeconomic status, etc. Health care is underrepresented in rural communities This population represents a great need for intervention due to its size and the severity of health disparities Nursing and health care have to opportunity to intervene and improve health care in rural America

References Harkness, G. & DeMarco, R. (2012). Community and public health nursing: Evidence for practice. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins National Rural Health Association. (2015). What's different about rural care? Retrieved from: http://www.ruralhealthweb.org/go/left/about-rural-health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2015). Policy & research. Retrieved from: http://www.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/policy/index.html