Members of the RRN team have recently published a report entitled “Characteristics and Distribution of the Regulated Nursing Workforce in Rural and Small Town Canada, 2003 and 2010“.  The report is based on the Canadian Institute for Health Information Nursing Database.  A few highlights include:

• In 2010 approximately 11% of RNs (including NPs) worked in rural and small town Canada where 18% of the general population lived.
• The proportions of RNs and NPs whose primary work was in rural Canada decreased from 2003 to 2010, except in Prince Edward Island.
• From 2003 to 2010, the number of designated NPs increased almost 280%.
• Rural RN nurse-to-population ratios were lower than those in urban areas in all jurisdictions for 2003 to 2010.