Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Rural Americans bear a disproportionate cardiovascular burden while facing limited access to cardiology services. This brief report proposes a workforce and practice framework for rural primary care nurse practitioners. The solution to rural cardiology scarcity is not unsupported specialty-level practice, but investment in nurse practitioner preparation and practice infrastructure. Grounded in established competencies, the framework distinguishes routine cardiovascular care, supported primary care requiring preparation and consultation, and specialty or escalated care. Recommendations emphasize curricular integration, supervised clinical experience, competency validation, health system safeguards, and consultation networks. Rural scarcity should strengthen primary care capacity, not lower standards or blur clinical boundaries.
Authors: Vera Barton-Maxwell, Amy Bronick
Language: English
Topic: Nursing Roles and Practices
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,590
OpenAlex ID: W7224904215