Management of agricultural injuries and illness.

Until recently, rural health care nursing issues had not been widely addressed. Appropriate concerns for an ill or injured worker in an urban setting are compounded in the rural setting with its isolation and lack of resources. Farming is very diversified, and different parts of the country face different types of problems. Nurses in the rural community have a responsibility to learn as much as possible about the agricultural hazards common to their area. Health care professionals must be able to make rapid, accurate assessments of the injured or ill farmer, taking into account the nature of the machine and environmental factors that may cause additional problems. Proper care of the injured or ill farmer must be initiated at the rural hospital for optimal recovery to take place.