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9.4 The Unique Characteristics of Remote Nurses

The study’s third finding is the unique characteristics, both as individuals and as a group of remote nurses, which enables them to remain in the social world. The social world can be chaotic, disorganised, contain absences, messy, unsafe, risky, hazardous and yet remote nurses continue to function in delivering mental healthcare. As Bushy (2002) states ‘[remote] nurses have a rich heritage of resilience, resourcefulness, adaptability and creativity’ (p. 109). They are able to stay and work remotely because the characteristics which define them are resourcefulness, resilience, responsiveness, and robustness. The importance of these characteristics in remote nurses is that it enables them to continue to deliver remote mental healthcare. This is important because remote mental healthcare is a major issue. Eley and Baker’s study (2007) of rural and remote stakeholders delivering remote healthcare reported that out of 16 priorities affecting their efficacy, mental health was the second most important priority and considered to be the greatest health condition affecting people in rural and remote areas. According to Carey, Wakerman, Humphreys, Buykx and Lindeman’s study (2013) mental health services were selected as one of the six primary healthcare services remote Australia residents should be able to access. With such importance placed on mental health services in remote locations, it is critical that nurses remain remotely located. As Rajkumar and Hoolahan (2004) stated ‘[t]he generalist primary care worker [nurse] is the key resource at the grass root level of mental healthcare in remote areas’ (p. 81). 9.4.1 Resourcefulness Resourcefulness is the ability to find clever and inventive ways to overcome difficulties ( Shorter Oxford Dictionary , 2007). Remote general nurses face many