April 11, 2001 For Immediate Release

Researchers from across Canada are launching a three-year study of nursing in rural and remote areas that will give communities information to help attract and retain nurses. The study will examine what nursing is really like in rural and remote communities, and explore how nurses can best be educated and supported in their work.

The study involves a total of 18 university researchers and is being led by nursing professors, Martha MacLeod of the University of Northern British Columbia, Judith Kulig of the University of Lethbridge, Norma Stewart of the University of Saskatchewan and geography professor, Roger Pitblado of Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. An advisory team of 19 managers and policy-makers from all provinces and territories is being led by Marion Knock of the British Columbia Ministry of Health. She said, "We need nurses in rural and remote areas of Canada. This research will assist us with recruiting and retaining nurses in those areas."

The study consists of several parts:
· A survey of 6000 nurses in all provinces and territories about their work
· An analysis of the Registered Nurses Database, to provide a statistical and demographic profile of rural and remote nurses.
· Opportunities for nurses nationwide to describe their experiences in everyday nursing practice.
· An analysis of documents, such as those describing standards and policies of nursing practice.

"The findings from this study will help to enhance nurses' contributions in achieving healthy and productive rural and remote communities in the 21st Century," says Judith Shamian, Executive Director of Nursing Policy for Health Canada.

The $592,000 study is funded by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation in collaboration with the Nursing Research Fund, the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Saskatchewan Economic and Cooperative Development, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, Nunavut Department of Health, the British Columbia Rural and Remote Health Research Institute based at UNBC, and the provincial and territorial registered nurses associations.