The lived experience of frontline nurses: COVID-19 in rural America.

Nurses in intensive care and COVID-19 designated medical units had experiences similar to high population United States and international cities. Their shared experience included high volumes of critically ill patients in hospitals frenzied by rapid change, uncertainty, and capacity strain. Differences in the experience of rural nurses included close social connection to patients, families, and community members. This rural connectedness had both positive and negative effects.