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Aims: To explore how emerging adult‐aged women self‐manage their sexual and reproductive health and to generate a grounded theory of these self‐management processes. Design: Grounded theory methods using a constructivist approach. Methods: Between September 2019 and September 2020, 18‑ to 25‐years‐old women (n = 13) were recruited from a 4‐year university, a 2‐year community college, and neighbourhoods surrounding the institutions of higher education. Individual interviews were transcribed verbatim and qualitatively analysed using a constant comparative method and inductive coding. Results: The theory purports that core processes of sexual and reproductive health self‐management used by the women in this study included both passive and (re)active processes. These processes expanded upon and/or maintained the women's accessible sexual and reproductive health knowledge, behaviour and beliefs, defined as the sexual and reproductive health repertoire. The processes appeared to be cyclical and were often initiated by a catalysing event or catalyst and resulted in conversations with confidantes, or trusted individuals. A catalyst was either resolved or normalized by expanding or maintaining the sexual and reproductive health repertoire. Conclusion: The resulting theory, EMeRGE Theory, offers insight into the complex and cyclical processes emerging adult‐aged women use to simultaneously develop and adapt their foundational sexual and reproductive health knowledge, behaviours and beliefs. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: This explication of emerging adult‐aged women's sexual and reproductive health self‐management processes can be used by nurses and nurse researchers to better address this population's unique health needs. Impact: The EMeRGE Theory provides valuable guidance for future exploratory and intervention research aimed at improving the health and well‐being of emerging adult‐aged women. Reporting Method: The authors adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative studies (COREQ) in preparation of this publication. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this article is to provide practical strategies for maintaining methodological rigour in executing a virtual qualitative study. Strategies are based on evidence from existing research about virtual qualitative methods and on the strategies used by the authors to convert a planned in‐person qualitative, grounded theory study to an entirely virtual grounded theory study during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study began in‐person in September 2019 and was converted to virtual in March 2020. Virtual data collection was completed in September 2020. Design: This article provides a case exemplar of virtual adaptations made to a study underway when the pandemic rendered all in‐person research impractical and potentially dangerous. Data sources: The strategies discussed are based on our own experiences and the supporting theoretical assumptions of qualitative research, specifically grounded theory methods. Implications for nursing: Nursing scholars conducting qualitative inquiry may find these strategies helpful in continuing research activities during periods of limited access to the phenomena or persons of interest. Furthermore, these strategies allow nursing scholars to conduct rigorous, in‐depth research without geographical limitations, providing greater possibilities for international collaborations and cross‐institution research. Conclusion: Despite novel challenges, methodological adaptations that are carefully planned and purposeful allow qualitative and non‐qualitative scholars to continue research activities in a fully virtual manner. Impact: This case exemplar and discussion provide practical strategies for qualitative scholars to consider while planning new studies or converting an in‐person study to a virtual one. Despite the in‐person nature of in‐depth qualitative inquiry, a historic pandemic and a changing research environment require qualitative researchers to adapt to virtual methods while still conducting high quality, methodologically rigorous research. Qualitative scholars can use the strategies presented here to continue rigorous qualitative inquiry despite limited access to phenomena or persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]