The Research Team:

Ethical concerns or questions:
Julia Taylor, Director
Office of Research Services, Ethics Committees, University of Saskatchewan
Kirk Hall, Room 207, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8 Canada
Telephone: (306) 966-4053 Facsimile: (306) 966-8597 http://www.usask.ca/research/

Purpose of the Study:
The purpose of the survey was to understand:

• WHO practices nursing in rural and remote areas of Canada?
• WHAT are the nursing practice roles and the scope of registered nursing practice in these areas?
• HOW satisfied are these nurses with their workplace, communities, and the educational and interdisciplinary supports for their practice?

What was Involved:
The survey provided a picture of registered nurses (RNs) and their work environments throughout rural and remote Canada. Questionnaires were mailed to over 6000 registered nurses in conjunction with nursing associations in all provinces and territories. Registered nurses were asked to volunteer their time to complete the questionnaire and mail it back to the survey team at the Saskatchewan site where confidential records are stored. The questionnaire was pre-tested with nurses who work in rural and remote settings, and it was available in both English and French versions. The survey provided data on: demographics, the work environment, interdisciplinary context, community environment, nursing knowledge, nursing practice roles, health and career plans.

How Participants were Selected:
The survey investigators, with the help of the provincial and territorial nursing associations selected samples representing nurses in rural and remote areas in primary care, acute care, community health, home care and long term care settings. This sample of RNs with active registration included: 1) all RNs who identified their workplace as a nursing station (outpost/nurse clinic); 2) all RNs who lived in the territories; and 3) a random sample of RNs who lived in areas with a rural postal code, as defined by Statistics Canada.

Role of the Nursing Associations:
The provincial and territorial nursing associations provided a vital link between the survey team and the nurses working in rural and remote areas of Canada who were selected to receive the questionnaire. They provided much needed personnel and technical support in the selection of the sample and mailing of questionnaires. The policy of each association was followed with respect to anonymity of RNs selected for the survey.
In addition, representatives from several of the provincial/territorial nursing associations were members of the project’s Advisory Team. These representatives from across Canada made an important contribution from a regional perspective to assist the survey team in achieving the goals of the overall project.                         

Reporting the Results:
The results of the survey formed the basis of a report to the funding agencies and various governing bodies. An executive summary of results from the survey questionnaire was available on this website before the end of 2002. A full report was made available by the end of 2003.
The results of the survey were linked to the other methods (Registered Nurse Database, narratives and documentary analysis) and integrated for presentation at scientific meetings. In addition, the results have been published in association newsletters and scientific journals.

Benefits of the survey:
The findings of the survey identified areas of priority for organizational and policy support with respect to recruitment, retention and education of registered nurses (RNs) in rural and remote Canada. As one of four methods in the larger project, the survey contributed to an integrative effort to improve the work environment for these nurses in all provinces and territories of the country.

Norma Stewart and Carl D'arcy signing letters for the survey