Lela V. Zimmer

TL;DR: It is important for researchers to bring hermeneutic skill to the process of meta-synthesis in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the various philosophical assumptions in which qualitative approaches are based.

TL;DR: Rural workforce characteristics reported here suggest the persistence of key characteristics noted in a previous Canada-wide survey of rural registered nurses (2001-2002), namely the aging of the rural nursing workforce, the growth in baccalaureate education for registered nurses, and increasing casualization.

TL;DR: Understanding professionalism in a rural context has significant implications in terms of affirming and identifying sources of job satisfaction among rural nurses and creating professional practice environments in rural areas.

TL;DR: Examination of the issues that emerged during the study illuminates the ways in which nurses' professional and community lives are intertwined and provoked a re-examination of how empowerment and emancipation can be realized by nurses in small rural hospitals.

TL;DR: A discussion is provided about educational opportunities, financial incentives and enhanced infrastructure that have been developed to address recruitment and retention challenges in rural and remote nursing practice from Canada and around the world.