Assistance needed in Cultural Project

[ERiveraTxStudent]

Hello, I am currently a nursing student in San Antonio, Tx working on my RN degree. I am currently working on a culture and caring group project with the topic being the native american culture in relation to nursing care. One criteria we must accomplish is to interview nurses who has had experience in working within the culture and to discuss common attitudes (both positive and negative) that they may have (or heard from other nurses) about the assigned cultural group. Being that I am in San Antonio, I have had great difficulties (meaning no such luck) in finding nurses who can answer this question for me, hence why I am here. Any input from fellow nurses would be greatly appreciated.

Also, for a nurse who has no experience working with this particular culture, what kind of avenues can be explored to become culturally sensitive to clients belonging to this group?

In my readings and research, I have come to understand the importance of spirituality, and the traditional health approach to this group, one of my professors mentioned that it can be extremely difficult to convince someone (especially elders) of this cultural group to take and maintaince adherence to modern (western?)medicine, is this true? and if so, what can I as a nurse do to incorporate both together in regards of teachings?

what are the common attitudes of this cultural group in regards of western health care? One things I read about what the issue of trust, what can I do to achieve a trusting nurse/patient relationship with a Native American Indian patient?

Again, any input and information would be wonderful, the internet is full of information, but I would love to receive input from those with actual experience as well.

Thank You,

ERiveraTxStudent

[Gennaver, MSN]

One criteria we must accomplish is to interview nurses who has had experience in working within the culture and to discuss common attitudes (both positive and negative) that they may have (or heard from other nurses) about the assigned cultural group. Being that I am in San Antonio, I have had great difficulties (meaning no such luck) in finding nurses who can answer this question for me, hence why I am here. Any input from fellow nurses would be greatly appreciated.

...

Thank You,

ERiveraTxStudent

Hi,

Maybe you'd have better luck doing a lit review search in Cinhal unter the terms Native American, Rural Health, and nursing...you might find some nurse researchers who have written about the very thing you need to interview them about.

Cheers,

Gen