Rural Nursing The Australian Context

The Australian rural environment is unique, diverse and challenging for nurses who are the most significant providers of health care in this context. Rural Nursing: The Australian Context provides readers with an understanding of the knowledge and skills required to practise in rural locations and communities. This book includes chapters on pregnancy, parenting, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, ageing and mental health. It examines rurality, population and health demographics, and the different practice opportunities available in rural settings. The authors outline the importance of having well-established professional networks and encourage readers to develop practice skills in response to a particular community. Each chapter features a vignette, reflective questions and a list of websites for further reading. Written by a team of academics and practising rural nurses, Rural Nursing will equip nursing students with the confidence to provide high-quality health care in a range of practice settings.

1. The context Karen Francis and Ysanne Chapman; 2. Rural health Desley Hegney, Karen Francis and Jane Mills; 3. Understanding the community Ysanne Chapman, Karen Francis and Melanie Birks; 4. The practice of rural nursing and midwifery Jenny Davis, Moira Williamson and Ysanne Chapman; 5. Pregnancy, paternity and parenting in rural communities Margaret McLeod, Maureen Miles, John Rosenberg and Peta Lea Gale; 6. Childhood and adolescence in rural communities Ann-Marie Brown, Ainsley James and Angela Bradley; 7. Working with adults in rural communities Ysanne Chapman and Karen Francis; 8. Living longer, living well Judith Anderson, Carmel Davies and Mary FitzGerald; 9. Mental health in rural communities Margaret McLeod and Sally Drummond; 10. Conducting research in rural contexts Ysanne Chapman and Karen Francis; 11. Conclusion: sustaining the health of rural populations Karen Francis, Ysanne Chapman, Faye McMillan and Jane Havelka.

Karen Francis is Professor in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga.
Ysanne Chapman an independent scholar and has adjunct professor status with James Cook University, Charles Sturt University, Monash University and Adelaide University.
Carmel Davies is Lecturer in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga.