A partnership between the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council and the University of Wisconsin will focus on the recruitment of Native American nurses through a Native Nations Nursing Summit. University of Wisconsin Nurse Audrey Tluczek says as the most under represented ethnic group in the country, Native Americans face barriers to entering the nursing profession.
“...We’re hoping to bring together nurses who self identify as members of Indian, native American, Alaskan Native Groups to help us understand how to address the nursing shortage particularly within the Native American community.”
Tluczek says the program will explore ways to encourage American Indian youth into nursing through networking. She says developing culture specific programs to improve the health outcomes of the Native American population is in the hands of future generations.
“…Native Americans have some of the most concerning health disparities. So one of our approaches to addressing those issues is to increase the number of native nurses to be more representative of the general population.”
Tribal educators and counselors, high school students and students enrolled in pre-nursing or nursing programs are encouraged to attend the summit November 12. To register, visit the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council website.
