Rural and remote communities are disproportionately affected in accessing health care, and researchers with the Nursing Education in Southwestern Alberta (NESA) program recently conducted a study to determine the factors that motivate or discourage nursing students from pursuing rural employment.
In Alberta, 18 per cent of the population lives in rural areas, while only 8.8 per cent of registered nurses work in rural areas. The NESA program, jointly offered by Lethbridge Polytechnic and the University of Lethbridge, integrates rural health concepts and clinical experience in rural settings, exposing students to the challenges of rural practice.
“Despite these efforts, gaps remain in understanding what motivates or discourages nursing students from pursuing rural employment after graduation,” says Dr. Wendi Lokanc-Diluzio, Assistant Professor in the University of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Health Science.
The study, Rural Healthcare Horizons: Insights into Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Career Intentions, originated from an undergraduate student’s interest in rural health. Through the NESA Joint Research Committee, which includes nursing faculty and nursing students from ULethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic, a research protocol was developed, and ethics were approved. Students, both undergraduate and graduate, were involved in the study from the beginning.
Between September 2024 and March 2025, 122 nursing students at all levels in the Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing After Degree programs were surveyed online about their employment intentions following graduation.
The findings show that those students who had been exposed to rural practice were more likely to say they intended to pursue rural nursing. Nearly 47 per cent reported plans to work in rural nursing right after graduation, while slightly more than 50 per cent said they intended to work in rural nursing within five years of graduating. Survey respondents said the most important factors influencing them in pursuing a career in rural areas included patient safety, a positive work culture and professional collaboration.
“The results highlight the importance of strong collaboration between post-secondary institutions and health-care organizations to better prepare and support nursing students for rural practices,” says Lokanc-Diluzio. “Expanding well-supported rural placements and developing mentorship opportunities, particularly during the transition into new graduate roles, may enhance graduates’ interests in pursuing rural nursing careers.”
While data collection and analysis have been completed, students are now involved in the knowledge translation phase. This includes creating a website and a podcast, as well as attending conferences, to share the research findings with students, educators and health-care stakeholders.
Along with Diluzio-Lokanc, the project team included Liz Cernigoy, Gillian Comchi and Chris Dore from Lethbridge Polytechnic and Jason Wengel from ULethbridge. Ulethbridge students Trinity Ley Ramos, at right in the top photo, and Chelsea Viney, at the left in top photo.