NANAINA Newsletter
Summer 2003 Newsletter
Presidents Report by Lillian Tom-Orme, President, NANAINA |
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Hello NANAINA Friends, The NANAINA Board and I are hoping you have embarked on a busy, but fun, summer schedule. The summer season is a time of planting new seed and growth. It is a time for family togetherness to celebrate song and dance. In Indian Country it is pow-wow season. Many tribes celebrate summer solstice, sun dance, bear dance, or ndaa'. It is also a time of berry picking, fishing, canning, and summer camping. How ever you celebrate the summer season, please enjoy it and always give thanks to the Creator and those who have gone before us. At NANAINA, summer is a time for the Board to gather to update its strategic plan and to refine plans for the next summit. As always, we look forward to hearing from members via email or phone call. Please provide input into the strategic plan as we value your suggestions. Give us your ideas on how your organization can be improved and how to incorporate state-of-the art education, practice, and research ideals. I encourage you to submit nominations for two Board positions that will be vacated in September: President-elect and student member. I would like to honor a special Native nurse whose life ended prematurely but in a manner that depicted a sacrifice for her people. I "met" Deerheart Cornitcher via telephone and email last fall. She had just found NANAINA via the internet and was so happy to finally find a group with whom to share her professional ideas about caring for diverse people. She joined NANAINA and purchased a t-shirt and pin. She also shared with me a manuscript that she started; I provided comments and encouraged her to publish it. She decided to receive a small pox vaccination. She passed on a few days later from a heart attack. I will be working with her husband on the manuscript, and we wish to have it published posthumously. She certainly was a brave person, and I hope you will honor her in your own way. I looked forward to meeting her and many others at the upcoming summit. Her story was shared among many Indian people throughout the country; her inspiration will endure. We have many accomplishments to share at our annual summit. I do hope all of you will invite one or two new friends. We need one another, and besides, a large group makes for a more fun conference. Remember, Park City is a physically active community, and we began to get in shape for this last year on our early morning walk/run. Bring your walking shoes and prepare for an exciting time. NANAINA Board Nominations: President-Elect and Student Member We are inviting nominations for NANAINA President-elect and one NANAINA student member. Submit name of nominee with contact information (address, phone and/or email) to June Strickland at: [email protected] or call her at home to discuss a nomination at 425-747-7268. E-mail or fax biosketches to June Strickland no later than July 15 at the same number: 425-747-7268 or home address: June Strickland 626-167th N.E. Bellevue, WA 98008 Please note: One must be a member of NANAINA to be nominated for NANAINA office. Back to Top |
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NANAINA Summit IX - Sept. 25-28, 2003 |
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Caring for Self Promotes Caring for Others Throughout the Four Seasons of Life: A Focus on Research, Health Services & Health Disparities For hotel information call 1-800-927-7694 or visit the hotel's web site at: http://www.yarrowresort.com. For exhibitors packets, registration forms, and information on how to submit a poster, visit the NANAINA web site at www.nanaina.com, or call toll free at 1-888-566-8773. Summit IX will be held September 25-28, 2003 at Yarrow Resort, Park City, Utah. At the Summit, we gather and share wisdom, experiences and synergy. We welcome NANAINA members, Alaska Native and American Indian nurses, non-Native nurses who care for and are interested in the Native population, and other health care providers. We extend a special welcome to students. The next story is about experiences of students at past Summits. University of Alaska Anchorage Nursing Students at the NANAINA Summit VIII By Mary Sue Anderson, RRANN Coordinator When students apply into the nursing majors here at the University of Alaska Anchorage and again when they apply for a scholarship with our program, Recruitment and Retention of Alaska Natives into Nursing (RRANN), we ask what factors influenced their decision to pursue the profession of nursing. Students state in many cases that it is nurses that were their motivation. Nurses, by example, advertise their profession with every patient contact they have. “ ….the person that had the most profound positive affect on the direction I would take in my journey through life was a nurse.” Lori K. BS Nursing student My first exposure to NANAINA was at Summit V in Santa Fe. It was a motivational experience to be a part of this group of nurses that advocated becoming “bi-cultural.” I came away inspired to encourage students to absorb what they need to become a nurse but to keep and treasure the culture that sustains them. Our students bring so much with them into the nursing profession in the way of strength, intelligence, experience, and determination. Bringing students to the NANAINA Summit is our way of encouraging and inspiring them. RRANN’s decision to fund students to attend NANAINA is based on the great importance of having Alaska Native/ American Indian nursing students interact with seasoned, professional Alaska Native/American Indian nurses. I feel that it is important for students to observe and engage in professional activities outside the clinical arena. Not all students have the flexibility to attend a 4-day conference; of those who could go, it was a challenge to choose which ones to attend. We asked students to write their reasons for wanting to attend. Here are some of their statements. “I am truly interested in Alaska Native issues, and I believe that it is important to take a proactive stance in order to become an informed advocate in my community.” Rona J. BS Nursing LaVerne A. wrote “As a nursing student, I would like to take back what I learned from this summit and apply it to the similar issues we see in Alaska. I would like to network and build new and long-lasting relationships through this conference—possibly even recruit nursing or medical students to Alaska!” “I believe that I would be able to contribute to the conference with my own personal experiences of 'holistic' healing that incorporates not only physical healing but also, the healing of one’s spirit and mind. …I feel that the conference is a wonderful opportunity to make connections with our fellow native nurses.” Shawna M. Pre-nursing Following are students' statements about their attendance at NANAINA Summit VIII in Oklahoma City. “Such a summit is a wonderful experience because it brings nursing students and nurses together, and I think that bringing them together is a brilliant way of expressing our encouragement for one another.” Trina G, Pre-nursing “…I also learned how important it is for natives to step up and become nurses because we know how to treat our people the best way, because we are part of them. This has encouraged me even more to pursue my nursing degree.” Sharon M. Pre-nursing As one can see, the Summit offers much to students, as well as others. Please join us. Back to Top |
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Treasurer's Report - by Bette Keltner, Treasurer, NANAINA |
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The 2003 year to date revenue is $2,620 from membership dues and an early Summit support of $500. There are two direct ways we should support NANAINA. First, we need more members to build a stronger voice for Indian nurses. Do invite the Indian nurses you know to join the organization. Membership fees are very modest compared to most professional dues. Second, the NANAINA Board is actively soliciting support from federal agencies and organizations to display or underwrite portions of the Summit expenses. The annual NANAINA Summit usually costs about $40,000. If your local hospital, school, or other affiliates could sponsor a booth or exhibit, or is interested in purchasing advertising in the Summit materials, please contact me at: [email protected] or at 202-687-3118. Back to Top |
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NANAINA Committees |
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Please let Lillian Tom-Orme know if you would like to lead a committee or if you are a committee leader but don't see your name listed below: Financial—Bette Keltner Public Relations—Sandy Little John Newsletter—Roxanne Struthers Nominating—June Strickland Summit Planning—Lillian Tom-Orme and others Legislative/Advocacy—Vacant Membership—Lee Anne Nichols Chapters—Bette Keltner History/Elders—Karine Crow Strategic Planning—Lillian Tom-Orme Merit Awards—Lillian Tom-Orme Back to Top |
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Featured Article - The MORE Grants Program |
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MORE for Your Money: The federal Minority Opportunities in Research (MORE) grants program can help minority nurses at all levels increase their access to research careers by Ruth Carol Ruth Carol, based in Skokie, IL, is a free-lance writer specializing in health care issues. Portions of this article originally appeared in the article “MORE for Your Money” by Ruth Carol, published in Minority Nurse magazine, Summer 2002. Copyright © 2002, Career Recruitment Media, Inc. Reprinted with permission. Building MORE Bridges: MORE Nurses to Fight Health Disparities Giving more minority students the opportunity to make that critical connection between research and clinical practice is just one of the goals National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) had in mind when it established the MORE Division in 1975. Designed to in-crease the number and capabilities of underrepresented minorities engaged in biomedical and behavioral research, the MORE Division has three branches that offer a wide range of individual and institutional research and research training grants to encourage minority students. The Special Initiatives Branch sponsors programs such as Bridges to the Doctorate, which helps minority students make successful transitions from an MS to a Doctorate to pursue a research career. One feature that sets the Bridges to the Doctorate apart from many other educational assistance grants available to minority students is that the students don’t have to pay it back, either in money or service. That, plus the chance to immerse herself in research, made the American Indian/Alaska Native MS to PhD Nursing Science Bridge between the University of North Dakota (UND) and the University of Minnesota (UM) an opportunity that Misty Wilkie, RN, BSN, couldn’t pass up. Having worked as a nurse for a few years, Wilkie returned to school at UND in 2001 to earn her Masters degree and work as a graduate research assistant. In April 2003, Wilkie graduated with her Masters and started classes in Summer Session of 2003 at UM to pursue her doctorate in nursing. With her PhD in hand, Wilkie wants to work on eliminating health disparities in American Indian communities. Susan J. Henly, RN, PhD, director of the American Indian/Alaska Native MS to PhD Nursing Science Bridge at the UM School of Nursing, Minneapolis, states, “We want to ensure that the research our students are doing, and how they define their own scholarly careers, will help position them to respond to the need for new knowledge that will help solve these health disparities.” UM’s program received its Bridges to the Doctorate grant from the MORE Division in July 2001. With a 10-year history of increasing Indian students’ access to nursing education via its successful Recruitment/Retention of American Indians in Nursing (RAIN) Program, UND had a large pool of students from which UM could draw. In turn, UM offered the advantage of having three American Indian faculty members—more than any other nursing school in the nation—who could serve as mentors to the UND students. Although the project is funded for three years, Henly has a more long-range vision in mind. “Over the course of the next 10 years, our hope is to double the number of American Indian/Alaskan Native nurses with doctoral degrees,” she says. “Right now there are only 12 in the entire country.” The grant calls for support of two students this year, two more next year and three more in 2004. To learn more about the various Minority Opportunities in Research (MORE) grant programs, including eligibility criteria, typical award amounts and application deadlines, visit the NIGMS Web site at www.nigms.nih.gov/funding/grntmech.html Back to Top |
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NANAINA Members On-The-Move |
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The 12th Annual National Indian Nursing Education Conference: Healing Hearts, Helping Hands: Past-Present-Future by Karine Crow The 12th Annual National Indian Nursing Education Conference was held April 14-26th, 2003, in Norman, OK. The theme for this conference was Healing Hearts, Help-in Hands: Past-Present-Future. Each presentation integrated the spirit, mind, emotions and physical. Elders Rita and Kenneth Coosewoon opened each session with prayers. Thursday’s Keynote Speaker, Dr. Robert Massy, spoke on “A Change of Heart Changes Everything.” The emphasis of this presentation was that we are all related and that there are ways that one can learn to live life well. If we are living life well it will be expressed through an individual’s physiology. There are techniques and ways to bring our heart, mind, emotions and physiology into alignment. One of the major ways is through gratitude and thanksgiving for the now and for small things. Other ways are expressing care, compassion and appreciation. The speaker demonstrated how to make this relevant as a student through video and through a computer technologically called freeze frame. By using these tools, it was demonstrated that study skills, test taking and stress reduction were improved. Friday’s Keynote Speaker, Dr. Wayne Nickens, talked about “The Healing Community: Culture as the Medium for Healing." The thesis for this presentation indicated that culture is the medium for healing through an exchange of heart. As healers or patients, one needs to be: a) empowered through love and b) prepared to receive truth. "Truth is the Creator that provides the power of healing. Truth communicated to the heart in the Spirit of Love is medicine.” (Wayne Nickens, MD, 2003) The prescription that was provided to the participants that can be used cross culturally is as follows: Stop, Pray, Forgive, and Talk to someone who knows the Truth and cares for you. These are the steps to observe before responding to any situation or crisis and to facilitate healing. Other speakers included Dr. John Lowe, “Old and New Ways of Being for the Native American Male;” Dr. Lee Anne Nichols and Dr. Judy Goforth Parker, “Exploring Native Nurse Leadership Concepts;” and Dr. Roxanne Struthers, “Tobacco Use and Misuse.” With each presentation, self-care was demonstrated as one of the ways that promotes how well healers could truly interact and facilitate healing. Healers take care of clients and patients only to the level they themselves have been healed. They must be willing to continue to work toward their own healing through connectedness, harmony and balance. As well, students from participating schools shared their experiences related to going into nursing and answered questions as to what would be helpful for future students. Then, in a panel facilitated by Martha Primeaux, faculty shared their experiences related to how they went into nursing and how they overcame barriers. A sweat lodge was built and sweats performed each evening. Breakout sessions included Cherokee basket weaving, Comanche prayer ties, and experiences in using the heart math freeze frame. Pathways to Leadership: It's Finally Here! by Martha Baker, Lee Anne Nichols, and Judy Goforth Parker Pathways to Leadership is an Indian Nurse Leadership curriculum that has been in development for several years. In June 1997, a team of four Indian nurse leaders and one non-Indian nurse leader were selected to attend in Denver, Colorado the Third Congress of Minority Nurses, a congress sponsored by the Health & Human Services Division of Nursing. Pathways to Leadership was focused to develop an American Indian nurse leadership curriculum. The curriculum focused initially on non-Indian leadership behaviors (six modules). The Indian team members identified the need to explore Indian nurse leadership further and identify unique dimensions of this leadership style. In defining Indian Nurse Leadership, NANAINA was instrumental in supporting and encouraging the development of three Indian Nurse Leadership modules. In addition, a model showing the relationship of concepts in Indian Nurse Leadership was constructed. The Pathways curriculum consists of nine modules of which six are non-Indian nurse leadership content and three contain Indian nurse leadership content. The non-Indian modules cover the following topics: 1) Knowing Self, 2) Personal and Professional Communication and Mentoring, 3) Group Process, 4) Decision-Making, 5) Change Process, and 6) Being a Futurist. The Indian modules cover the following topics: 7) Being a Leader in the Indian Way, 8) Indian Nursing and Tribal Sovereignty, and 9) Indian Nursing and Indian Health Programs. A gathering for Indian nurse leaders was planned and implemented by the Pathway team and the nurse consultant at the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service and director of Arizona State University College of Nursing ASUN project in June 2003. The gathering lasted for one week. Seventeen nurse leaders attended the gathering. The curriculum modules were presented over the week at the rate of two per day. Guest speakers were invited as exemplars of leadership. The guest speakers expressed their views of leadership in relation to the concepts discussed in the modules. For example, one former tribal chief of the Navajo Peterson Zah described his three principles of leadership—"be honest to yourself," "listen to people," and "respect their culture." Other methods used during the week included: each day began with a prayer or meditation by an Indian elder; food and drinks were provided through out the day; and opening circles were conducted every morning. A meal was served by one of the Pathway team members at her home for the participants of the Pathways gathering. Finally, following the evaluation, a giveaway (a tradition of the Cherokee) was done with the participants. An ending circle was formed and the closing ceremony was conducted by an Apache healer. Evaluation was done daily and a summative evaluation was done at the end of the gathering. The evaluations revealed that the curriculum was well received by the participants. The goal is to continue refinement of the curriculum for expanded use in schools of nursing and nursing leaders of tribal health programs. The June 2003 presentation of the curriculum was a pilot that will set the stage for nation-wide implementation. If you have questions or would like more information regarding the Pathways to Leadership project, please contact one of these people: • Lee Ann Nichols ([email protected]) • Martha Baker (baker-m @mail.mssc.edu) • Judy Goforth Parker ([email protected]) Back to Top |
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Information on Health |
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Cardiovascular Disease in Women by Martha Baker Women do not identify heart disease as a real health threat. If asked, women typically identify breast cancer as the number one cause of death. However, women, especially Native American women, are at high risk for the developing heart disease. AWOHHN has developed Best Practice Guidelines for the primary care of women with heart disease. Each risk factor was researched by literature review to distinguish the most appropriate recommendations for a particular risk factor. The major risk factors for cardiac disease are defined as modifiable or non-modifiable. The non-modifiable factors include age, gender, and family history. Primary care is focused on the modifiable risk factors of weight, smoking, sedentary life style, coexisting diseases, and hormone replacement. Best Practices recommendations are outlined for each of these risk factors. For example, hormone replacement recommendations focus on individual discussions between the physician and the patient. Currently, hormone replacement therapy is not recommended for long-term prevention of cardiac diseases. Smoking and obesity are significant risk factors in Native Americans, both women and men. Smoking cessation is advocated with specific strategies as well as weight and activity guidelines. The rate of diabetes, a major risk factor for cardiac disease, is significantly higher in Native Americans than in the general population. Primarily because of diabetes rate, heart disease prevalence is higher in Native Americans. Primary care best practice guidelines offer an excellent method of addressing these risk factors and can be used with Native women. The guidelines were presented and handouts were provided at the Summit in Oklahoma City in 2002. For a free copy of the best practices guidelines, or for more information regarding the AWOHHN guidelines, please contact Martha Baker at 417-625-9628or at [email protected]. Work of Chief Clinical Consultant for APNs by Ursula Knoki-Wilson The Indian Health Service Chief Clinical Consultant for Advanced Practice Nursing is Ursula Knoki-Wilson, RN, CNM, MSN, who was appointed by Dr. Michael Trijillo in January, 2000. Ms. Knoki-Wilson has since been instrumental in representing advanced practice nursing issues in various situations including serving on the National Council of Nursing. As the Indian Health Service Advisor to the Committee on American Indian Affairs of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Ursula traveled in May, 2003 to Alaska to participate in site evaluation visits to the Y-K Delta Regional Hospital in Bethel, the Samuel Simmonds Memorial Hospital in Barrow, the Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka and Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage. Ursula’s team visited the Alaska Native Medical Center. All of these facilities are tribally owned health care systems. Ms. Knoki-Wilson states, “the site evaluators worked long hours in 4 days but the experience was wonderful. This committee truly promotes a collaborative team approach to advocating for and promoting safe, quality care for mothers and babies”. Nurses, today, are linking their practice with other health care professionals working for joint goal of improving health care for consumers. Back to Top |
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About Notes |
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