HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
Partnership: A Model for Success
Navajo area nurse leaders, faculty and staff from University of New Mexico College of Nursing and nursing faculty from Northern Arizona University have worked together since 1996 to implement a variety of projects that affect nursing in the Navajo Nation. Throughout these endeavors the importance of collaboration and partnership has been greatly appreciated. Following is a short history that led to the development of N-NURSE and a listing of activities.
Interest and Needs Survey
Health Career Interest and Needs Survey conducted at 10 health facilities in the Navajo Nation to better understand factors that impact development of health careers for health workers in New Mexico and Arizona Indian Country. The majority of participants were American Indians who intended to stay in their communities. The survey gave voice to a tremendous human resource potential for advancement of human health in this area with significant health needs. (2002-2003)
Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
New Mexico Partnership for Training Project
Mentorship for Nursing Careers on the Navajo Nation Project
The Mentorship Project emerged from findings of the health worker survey and funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundations (2004-2006). The project's objectives met:
- Created a Navajo Nursing Consortium for Higher Education.
- Developed a mentorship curriculum based in Navajo worldview and values and provided seven community based workshops throughout the Navajo Nation.
- Developed a "network" of nurse mentors across the Navajo Nation.
- Promoted understanding of nursing in culturally appropriate contexts.
- Created a sustainable nurse organization to continue work began in the mentorship project.
Creation of N-Nurse
Incorporated with Navajo Nation Regulatory Division June 2005 and received non-profit 501(c) 3 status from IRS May 2007. N-NURSE purpose: give voice for nursing on the Navajo Nation that crosses boundaries of institution and health delivery systems.
The Mentorship Project Navajo Nursing Consortium members created the existence of a sustainable organization to continue work began in the mentorship project. Navajoland Nurses United for Research, Service and Education, Inc. (N-NURSE) is that organization.
Founding Members
Standing:
Erma Marbut, Linda Petri, Karine Crow, Marlene Eriacho,
Barbara
Overman, Loyce Phoenix, Selva Thompson. Sitting: Sandra Dodge, Ursula Knoki-Wilson. Not pictured is: Lydia Hubbard-Pourier.
N-NURSE, Inc.
The members of the consortium determined that a voice for nursing on the Navajo Nation that crossed boundaries of institution and health delivery systems was to continue after the Mentorship Project's funding came to an end. A strategic planning session was conducted spring 2005; the organization was born and incorporated June 5, 2005 by the Navajo Nation Business Regulatory Agency. N-NURSE was granted tax exempt status under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code on May 17, 2007.
N-NURSE activities starting with most recent
- January 2010 received funding through UNM Center for Development and Disability from Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation Paralysis Task Force (CDRF PRC) to follow up on recommendations from 2008 grant project.
- November 2009 Roundtable presentation and discussion of mentorship curriculum developed using Navajo Blessing Way Pathway at UNM Mentorship Conference (Albuquerque, New Mexico).
- October 2009 received funding from Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women to implement a 2 year project titled “Rural Indian Communities Collaboration Against Sexual Assault.” This project will foster the development of a Navajo, Hopi and Zuni Alliance Against Sexual Assault, increase the number of SANE trained nurses in Indian Country as well as build capacity for Community Response Teams in these rural areas.
- April 2009 Third Symposium titled “Reaffirming Cultural Knowledge for Transformation in Health Care” (Albuquerque, NM) Keynote: Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Pro Vice-Chancellor Mãori, Waikato University , Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand.
- August 2008: N-NURSE representatives invited to present mentorship project and conduct a Mentorship Workshop at the Aboriginal Nurse Association of Canada 32nd Annual Conference (Halifax, Nova Scotia).
- May 2008: “Mentorship for Nursing Careers in the Navajo Nation” Poster Presentation at 3rd Annual New Mexico Tribal Health Research Summit, UNM Center for Native American Health (Abq, New Mexico)
- May 2008: Received funding through UNM Center for Development and Disability from Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation Paralysis Task Force (CDRF PRC) to conduct 5 information sharing sessions across the Navajo Nation. The purpose: to acquaint CDRF PRC Quality of Life grant program personnel with the assets, needs and barriers to health-related quality of life for people with paralysis on the Navajo Nation, from the perspective of community-based direct service providers and to increase awareness among CHR personnel affiliated with Chapter Houses on access to contents and use of the PRC resources & quality of life grants.
- October 2007: Second Symposium titled “Voicing Health Promotion Skills to Improve Health & Reduce Disparities” Keynote: Jennie Joe, PhD, MPH, RN, Director of the Native American Research & Training Center (NARTC) & Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona (Flagstaff, Arizona).
- April 2007: N-NURSE representatives invited to attend Minority Outreach workgroup of the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation Paralysis Task Force (CDRF PRC) (Washington DC).
- October 2006: First Symposium titled “Navajoland Nursing: Sacred Space and Caring Science” Keynote: Jean Watson PhD, RN, AHNC, FAAN, Distinguished Professor of Nursing, University of Colorado Denver (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Ongoing Activities
- N-NURSE presents a “Living Legend Award for Excellence in Nursing on Navajoland” at each symposium for recognition of outstanding service and achievement.
- N-NURSE supports, through scholarships, American Indian student nurses chosen by nursing programs that serve the Four Corners area of New Mexico/Arizona to attend the symposiums.
In progress
Research project to develop an understanding of cultural affirming health care and health outcomes important to care from a cultural perspective. Navajo and University of New Mexico IRB processes complete. This research began in 2009 and is in process with collaboration between N-NURSE and the University of New Mexico College of Nursing whereby the Principal Investigator is a faculty member in the College of Nursing and the co-investigator is president of N-NURSE. A subset of the N-NURSE Board is serving in research advisory capacity.