Abstract
Critical access hospitals (CAHs) may have less support for new hires than larger institutions, and are at risk for recruitment and retention issues. The purpose of this descriptive, phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of new nurse graduates in the first year of employment in CAHs. Thirteen first-year critical access hospital nurses were interviewed, representing 3 midwestern states. Six themes were identified using Colaizzi's (1978) seven-step process for analysis: (1) always a professional, (2) personal connections, (3) pride in work and community, (4) always on your toes, (5) everyone works as a team, and (6) essential preparation experiences. Most study participants identified "always a professional" as a major part of their identity as nurses and within the community. This study could assist leaders in both nursing education and rural hospital settings to better understand the needs of new nurses as they launch their nursing careers in critical access hospitals.
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