Indigenous Nurses

Term Paper # 113975

Anthropology > Australian
Medical and Health > Nursing

Indigenous Nurses

A discussion on whether the recruitment of more indigenous nurses in Australia would improve the serious health disparity between the indigenous and non indigenous people.

961 words () | 10 sources | APA | 2009 Australia

Paper Summary:

This paper attempts to show that here is a considerable health disparity between the health of indigenous and non indigenous Australians. The indigenous people of Australia are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The paper also contends that educating more indigenous nurses in indigenous history, culture and health can significantly improve this health disparity, as has been evidenced in comparable countries.

From the Paper:

"Although all Australians have the same access to health care services, indigenous people find it difficult to obtain appropriate, culturally safe health care. They are reluctant to use mainstream healthcare as they perceive the services as unwelcome and not culturally appropriate. Goold (2006). The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation represents 130 Aboriginal Medical Centres which are operated by local aboriginal communities, delivered by aboriginals for aboriginals. Their health outcomes are improved because their services are culturally appropriate. The mainstream were not meeting their needs, which are: culturally appropriate care, delivering health care in a holistic way, maintain cultural values and cultural safety, and situated in areas where aboriginals live. Dragon (2007). "

Sample of Sources Used:

Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada 2002 cited in Goold, S & Usher, K 2005 'Meeting the health needs of indigenous people: how is nursing education meeting the challenge?' Contemporary Nurse, vol. 22, no. 2, p. 289
Armstrong, F 2004 'Indigenous health today', Australian Nursing Journal, vol 12, no. 5, pp. 16-18.
Armstrong, R & Van Der Weydon, M 2005 'Indigenous health: partners in healing', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 182, no. 10, pp. 498 -499
'Indigenous nurse recruitment campaign' 2008 Australian Nursing Journal, vol. 16, no.4, p. 13
Dragon, N 2007 'A call to action: health equality for all indigenous Australians', Australian Nursing Journal, vol. 14, no. 7, pp.21-24