Lived experiences of Indonesian nurses working in remote areas: A Descriptive qualitative study
Ivanna Christina Pardosi(1), Rica Silvia Siburian(2), Vania Naomi Silalahi(3), Juniarta Juniarta(4*), Novita Susilawati Barus(5)
(1) Department of Nursing, Siloam Hospitals Bogor, Bogor, Indonesia
(2) Department of Nursing, Siloam Hospitals Kebun Jeruk, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia
(3) Department of Nursing, Siloam Hospitals Bekasi Timur, Bekasi, Indonesia
(4) Department of Mental Health Nursing, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Tangerang, Indonesia
(5) Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Tangerang, Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author
Abstract
Introduction: Ensuring the equitable distribution of nurses across the region is imperative since they play a crucial role in delivering comprehensive healthcare to individuals, groups, families, and communities. Nevertheless, many regions in Indonesia still face a shortage of nurses, particularly in geographically isolated areas. This study aimed to examine the experiences of Indonesian nurses who were employed in rural areas.
Methods: This study used a descriptive qualitative study conducted in mid 2022. Eight nurses with at least one year of experience working in remote healthcare settings, participated in the study. Data was gathered via an online semi-structured interview that lasted between 60 to 80 minutes. The data was transcribed and analyzed using the Colaizzi thematic analysis method. All participants worked in the Eastern part of Indonesia.
Results: The present study discovered 73 coding resulting in three major themes and eleven subthemes. Nurses working in rural areas may face challenges that enrich their personal, social, and professional growth. Working in rural areas has enhanced nurses' expertise and creativity.
Conclusions: Further investigation is necessary to comprehend the provision and standard of nursing care in rural regions, thereby aiding in the formulation of policies in Indonesia.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
1. SISDMK. Sebaran 9 Jenis kenaga kesehatan di fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan [Distribution of 9 types of health workers in health care facilities], https://sisdmk.kemkes.go.id/ (2023).
2. Kementrian Dalam Negeri RI. Data potensi jumlah penduduk - 2023 [Potential population data - 2023]. Direktorat Jendral Bina Pemerintahan Desa, Kementerian Dalam Negeri RI, https://e-prodeskel.kemendagri.go.id/v/2023/data-integrasi/13/data-potensi-jumlah-penduduk (2023).
3. Denisa. Mendagri imbau tenaga kesehatan ditugaskan ke daerah terpencil [Domestic Affairs Minister urges health workers to be assigned to remote areas]. Radio Republik Indonesia , https://www.rri.go.id/papua/nasional/323554/mendagri-imbau-tenaga-kesehatan-ditugaskan-ke-daerah-terpencil (2023).
4. Rokom. Program Nusantara Sehat untuk perkuat pelayanan kesehatan [Healthy Nation program to strengthen health services]. Sehat Negeriku Sehatlah Bangsaku, https://sehatnegeriku.kemkes.go.id/baca/blog/20150326/1612023/program-nusantara-sehat-untuk-perkuat-pelayanan-kesehatan/#:~:text=Pada (2015, accessed 16 November 2023).
5. Terry D, Lê Q, Nguyen U, et al. Workplace health and safety issues among community nurses: a study regarding the impact on providing care to rural consumers. BMJ Open; 5. Epub ahead of print 12 August 2015. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008306.
6. Sandler M, DeLeenHeer D, Fedick S, et al. Enhancing Rural and Remote Nursing Practice for a Healthier B.C. Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia .
7. Korstjens I, Moser A. Series: Practical guidance to qualitative research. Part 4: Trustworthiness and publishing. European Journal of General Practice 2018; 24: 120–124.
8. Adler RH. Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research. Journal of Human Lactation; 38. Epub ahead of print 2022. DOI: 10.1177/08903344221116620.
9. Sundler AJ, Lindberg E, Nilsson C, et al. Qualitative thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology. Nurs Open; 6. Epub ahead of print 2019. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.275.
10. MacKay S, Smith A, Kyle R, et al. What influences nurses’ decisions to work in rural and remote settings? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative research. Rural Remote Health; 21. Epub ahead of print 3 March 2021. DOI: 10.22605/RRH6335.
11. Hyejin P, Ja JK. The Retention Factors among Nurses in Rural and Remote Areas: Lessons from the Community Health Practitioners in South Korea. Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing; 33. Epub ahead of print 2022. DOI: 10.12799/jkachn.2022.33.3.269.
12. Baljoon R, Banjar H, Banakhar M. Nurses’ Work Motivation and the Factors Affecting It: A Scoping Review. Int J Nurs Clin Pract; 5. Epub ahead of print 25 April 2018. DOI: 10.15344/2394-4978/2018/277.
13. Khim K. Are health workers motivated by income? Job motivation of Cambodian primary health workers implementing performance-based financing. Glob Health Action; 9. Epub ahead of print 2016. DOI: 10.3402/gha.v9.31068.
14. Lubis MF. The Influence of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation on The Performance Nurses in The Impatient Room of Dr. Djoelham Binjai Hospital. Science Midwifery 2022; 10: 2406–2413.
15. Sinaga YA. Ministry explores remote areas to boost access to health services. ANTARA: Nusantara News Agency, 18 February 2023, https://en.antaranews.com/news/273141/ministry-explores-remote-areas-to-boost-access-to-health-services (18 February 2023, accessed 12 November 2024).
16. Muhaji I. The Indonesian Government’s Efforts to Improve Health Services and Facilities in Rural Areas Related to Health Laws. Journal La Sociale; 2. Epub ahead of print 2021. DOI: 10.37899/journal-la-sociale.v2i1.306.
17. Wood MP, Forsyth S, Dawson NH. Remote area nurses’ perceptions of the enablers and barriers for delivering end-of-life care in remote Australia to Aboriginal people who choose to pass away on their traditional lands. Rural Remote Health; 21. Epub ahead of print 2021. DOI: 10.22605/RRH6485.
18. Hutabarat J. Pembangunan infrastruktur tuntaskan pelayanan kesehatan hingga ke pelosok [Infrastructure development brings health services to remote areas]. Media Indonesia, November 2021, https://mediaindonesia.com/nusantara/424585/pembangunan-infrastruktur-tuntaskan-pelayanan-kesehatan-hingga-ke-pelosok (November 2021).
19. Kemenkes RI. Peraturan Pelaksanaan Undang-Undang Nomor 38 Tahun 2014 Tentang Keperawatan. 26, Indonesia: JDIH BPK, https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/138617/permenkes-no-26-tahun-2019 (2019, accessed 26 November 2023).
20. Aqtash S, Robb WF, Hunter LH, et al. Self-Assessed Competence of Experienced Expatriate Nurses in a Rural and Remote Setting. SAGE Open Nurs; 3. Epub ahead of print 2017. DOI: 10.1177/2377960817702382.
21. Jongen C, McCalman J, Campbell S, et al. Working well: Strategies to strengthen the workforce of the Indigenous primary healthcare sector. BMC Health Serv Res; 19. Epub ahead of print 2019. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4750-5.
22. Claeys A, Berdai-Chaouni S, Tricas-Sauras S, et al. Culturally sensitive care: Definitions, perceptions, and practices of health care professionals. Journal of Transcultural Nursing 2021; 32: 484–492.
23. Ličen S, Prosen M. The development of cultural competences in nursing students and their significance in shaping the future work environment: a pilot study. BMC Med Educ; 23. Epub ahead of print 2023. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-023-04800-5.
24. Kolluri S, Stead TS, Mangal RK, et al. Telehealth in response to the rural health disparity. Health Psychol Res; 10. Epub ahead of print 20 August 2022. DOI: 10.52965/001c.37445.
25. Gurupur VP, Miao Z. A brief analysis of challenges in implementing telehealth in a rural setting. Mhealth 2022; 8: 17–17.
26. Kwak MY, Hwang EJ, Lee TH. Effects of the Physician–Primary-Healthcare Nurse Telemedicine Model (P-NTM) on medication adherence and Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of patients with chronic disease at remote rural areas. Int J Environ Res Public Health; 18. Epub ahead of print 2021. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052502.
27. Witter S, Herbst CH, Smitz M, et al. How to attract and retain health workers in rural areas of a fragile state: Findings from a labour market survey in Guinea. PLoS One; 16. Epub ahead of print 2021. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245569.
28. Firdaus A, Efendi F, Hadisuyatmana S, et al. Factors influencing the intention of Indonesian nursing students to work in rural areas. Fam Med Community Health; 7. Epub ahead of print 2019. DOI: 10.1136/fmch-2019-000144.
29. Chen Y, Xie C, Zheng P, et al. Altruism in nursing from 2012 to 2022: A scoping review. Front Psychiatry; 13. Epub ahead of print 9 December 2022. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1046991.
Article Metrics
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Community Empowerment for Health

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Jl. Farmako, Sekip Utara, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
Sekretariat Bersama Jurnal Room, 2nd floor above IKM canteen
📧 jcoemph.fk@ugm.ac.id
© 2025 Journal of Community Empowerment for Health




