Date of Conferral

4-2-2025

Date of Award

April 2025

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Silivia Bigatti

Abstract

Approximately 60 million people, or one in five Americans, live in rural areas across the United States. Despite this, there is a lack of information about the experiences of critical access nurses working in rural hospitals that serve small towns and rural areas. The goal with this research was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of rural nurses in the post-COVID-19 era. Using hermeneutic phenomenology and rural nursing theory, the lived experiences of eight nurses working in critical access hospitals in Iowa were explored through semi-structured interviews. The qualitative data was analyzed using the hermeneutic circle for phenomenological interpretation. The findings revealed significant challenges faced by rural nurses, including staffing shortages, limited resources, and the impact of telehealth on patient care. The importance of continuous, practical education and disaster preparedness, emphasizing the need for hands-on training and realistic simulations were highlighted. Additionally, the research underscores the dual nature of telehealth as both beneficial and challenging, with a need for strategies to enhance personal connections in telehealth interactions. The strong sense of community support and close relationships with patients are distinctive features of rural nursing, contributing to job satisfaction and professional fulfillment, but also leading to role conflicts and challenges in maintaining professional boundaries. The results of this study advocate for positive social change through proper funding and resources for rural nurses, evidence-based education, training, and counseling, and an increased presence of voice for nurses working in rural areas. These changes are expected to result in better care and increased access for the populations that rural nurses serve.

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