The Native American Nursing Learning Collaborative, a series of webinars open to all, is co-hosted by the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action and the National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association (NANAINA).

The Campaign, an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is implementing recommendations from the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) 2010 report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. The Campaign’s work is based on the belief that everyone deserves to live the healthiest life possible.

NANAINA includes people from every corner of the country dedicated to the good health and well-being of the American Indian and Alaska Native people. NANAINA recognizes the unique contribution of Native American Nursing practice to include the dimensions of connection, holism, trust, spirituality, caring, traditions, and respect.

The purpose of the Native American Nursing Learning Collaborative is to improve the well-being of Native communities and address health inequities through nursing. True health begins with respect for the values within the community, and well-being and equity must involve the leadership and involvement of those in the community who hold that knowledge and wisdom. This collaborative approach reflects the concept of cultural humility, which includes self-reflection and a commitment to lifelong learning.

The Campaign is partnering with NANAINA to achieve the IOM’s recommendation to diversify the nursing workforce to help reduce health disparities in underserved communities.

Goals

• Highlight the strengths of traditional and cultural health values of Native American
• Recognize the diversity within Native Tribes and Nations and how that contributes to a Culture of Health.
• Illuminate the history of Native people and relate those experiences to health.
• Understand the social determinants of health specific to Native American communities.
• Determine and share promising practices to increase the recruitment and retention of Native American nursing students.
• Position Native American nurses as leaders in building a Culture of Health.

Key Areas

• Health equity
• Health practice
• Education of new generations of Native American nurses