Perceptions and Experiences of Nurses on the Use of Telemedicine in Rural Healthcare Delivery in Edo State

Background: Telemedicine offers a promising strategy for extending healthcare reach to underserved rural populations, yet nurse acceptance and integration capacity remain understudied in South South Nigeria. Aim: This study explored nurses' perceptions and experiences of telemedicine use in rural healthcare delivery in Edo State. Methods: A descriptive qualitative design used semi-structured in-depth interviews with 24 purposively selected nurses from six rural primary health care centres piloting telemedicine services. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Four major themes emerged: perceived benefits including improved specialist access and reduced patient travel; technology-related challenges including poor internet connectivity and device reliability; training and competence concerns; and organisational support deficits. Nurses expressed openness to telemedicine adoption conditional on adequate training and technical support. Conclusion: Nurses view telemedicine positively but require structured onboarding, reliable technology infrastructure, and sustained technical support to sustain its use. The study recommends a phased nurse telemedicine integration strategy for rural health programmes in Edo State and similar settings. Keywords: telemedicine, rural healthcare, nurses, Edo State, digital health.