When it comes to looking for a new position as a healthcare professional, there are a lot of factors to consider, especially location. It’s especially easy to focus exclusively on an urban or suburban setting, and for good reasons—they’re highly populated, always in demand of healthcare professionals, and provide the latest technologies. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for rural healthcare to go overlooked as a result, which makes it even more vital to keep it on your radar!
However, rural life isn’t for everyone so it’s important to lay out the pros and cons to help inform your decision.
Pro: Finding a Strong Sense of Community
A smaller population can often mean a closer-knit community! This also extends to potential patients, as less patients means more time to provide personalized care and to form unique, recurring relationships. This makes building trust much easier and more rewarding, which can mean the world to some patients!
Alongside a smaller patient pool, you also will most likely have a smaller workforce to complement that demand. While the idea of a smaller team might seem stressful, it can be the opposite! Like with your patients, a smaller team makes it easier to bond with your coworkers and build rapport with one another. A closer-knit team will likely work very well together, as you’ll be more attuned to each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies. This level of familiarity can greatly contribute to an effective and welcoming work environment unique to rural settings!
Con: Socially and Physically Isolated
While you wouldn’t be alone, one of the defining characteristics of a rural setting is the smaller community being further spaced apart. If you’re someone comforted by the hustle and bustle of neighbors, cars, and events outside their home, then you might struggle with the switch to a rural environment. This can also cause issues of socialization and having someone nearby for any sort of emergency. Along with that, seeing the same small selection of people might not be ideal if you’re a social butterfly who prefers the adventure of new people every day.
A little extra work may be required to keep up in-person socialization, but if you’re someone who enjoys the extra space and doesn’t mind the effort in connecting with a smaller, spaced-out community, then it can be worth it!
Pro: Improved Work-Life Balance
With a smaller population, you’re less likely to be overwhelmed with patients and cases. While a less busy schedule might be understimulating for some, for others, it can be just what they need! Rural healthcare can lead to a more relaxed work-life balance, allowing you to spend more time with your friends, family, and hobbies. Pair that with less traffic and potentially shorter commutes, and you’ll be surprised how much time you’ll save!
This benefits the work side of your work-life balance as well. Having the time and room to breathe will allow you to dedicate more energy into each case and patient. You can also dedicate more time to other professional goals and experiences, which can help build your expertise and buff up your resume.
Con: Longer Commutes and Fewer Resources
While you won’t have to worry about traffic, depending on where you live, your commute to work might still be long, offering its own obstacles in emergencies. Some clinics or hospitals in rural areas might also be very limited in what sort of care they offer, and you might be less likely to help every patient who comes through as opposed to an urban healthcare center. Due to the smaller community, it’s not uncommon for rural healthcare to receive less attention, funding, and medical technology. While this is generally understandable for rural communities, this can cause issues when special emergencies arise.
Thus, learning patience, initiative, and pragmatism may be necessary for a rural healthcare position, which are always good skills to hone, but may not suit everybody as they look for their next healthcare position.
Pro: Unique Career Growth Opportunities
Rural healthcare positions can offer opportunities and autonomy in ways that other settings may not. Due to a generally smaller workforce and limited specialized resources, you will most likely find yourself required to cover other positions or responsibilities that, in a more populated workforce, would normally go to specified personnel. While potentially daunting, it can also be a great way to challenge yourself and to adapt, learn, and grow. Such scenarios offer great ways of advancing your professional profile and skillset! .
Opportunities also extend to rising in the ranks of your workplace. With less competition, you might find it easier to advance your career into the roles you most desire and specialize in.
Con: Required to Work Outside Your Comfort Zone
If you’ve never been in a rural setting before, such a drastic change in setting can be stressful, and you may not know if it’s truly for you until you’ve experienced it. As stated previously, don’t be surprised if you find yourself having to cover new areas that you may not have been expected to fulfill in a more urban or suburban setting. Because of the smaller selection of workers, overlap in responsibility is not uncommon! This is where qualities like adaptability and initiative really shine, as you’ll find yourself having to pick up responsibilities you may not have had to in an urban setting. But if you’re someone looking to hone these skills and face new challenges, then this could be the place for you!
However, if this is not where your strengths lie, then you might find yourself struggling under these unique circumstances. When it comes to this factor, it’s important to know what your preferences are and how well you know you can adapt. Not everywhere is for everyone, and that’s okay!
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Everyone has their preferences and thrives under differing circumstances, but it can be a journey to figure out where your strengths truly flourish! The rural healthcare field is often underappreciated and certainly isn’t many people’s first choice when it comes to finding a new career. But it’s never a bad idea to start branching out and taking advantage of new opportunities, especially when looking to advance your career!
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