Nursing & indigenous education integration

Abstract

The number of indigenous nurses practicing in Canada and the USA falls far below population census levels. To increase recruitment, retention and graduation of indigenous nursing students in academic settings, access to education and curriculum revision is needed.  Integration of nursing and indigenous knowledge may improve the outcomes of nursing education, resulting in improved practice. Curricula revision, such as inclusion of media which reflects indigenous experience, supports cultural identity and enhances the learning experiences provided by academic settings. Traditional foundations of nursing knowledge are based on science, aligning theory with practice. Nursing education leads to applications of communication, comfort, nutrition and hygiene to improve health. Indigenous knowledge added to this foundation as it incorporates various aspects of the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual world, understanding their function and purpose. The Medicine Wheel represents a structural education framework of knowledge shared among many Aboriginal peoples. Incorporating this knowledge into traditional nursing education systems may remove barriers to academic success for many students. Cultural identity within this framework influences the level of self-confidence and positive psychological adjustment that occurs in personal, professional and academic environments. When indigenous education and cultural identity are absent from nursing curricula, it may represent a subtle racism. This has a negative impact on students’ self-confidence and academic success. It contributes to lower levels of nursing student recruitment, retention and graduation. Developing the future nursing workforce can benefit from utilizing efforts to recruit, retain and graduate indigenous nurses. By incorporating aspects of Aboriginal epistemology into pedagogy and curriculum, nursing education will broaden the potential of providing more inclusive education. Integration of nursing and indigenous education supports cultural identity and promotes diversity within the nursing profession that provides care for all people.