This type of cultural sensitivity, however, can be accomplished by nursing schools separate from the tribal college system. Culturally competent care is imperative for underserved populations who experience disproportionately poor health. Although it is not essential that minority patients be cared for by a nurse of the same ethnicity, there are clear advantages for individual patients, the health care organization and the overall health care system when care providers who are members of that group are visible participants and leaders. Increasingly, American Indian and Alaska Native nurses are participating in the career ladder. The National Sample Survey estimated that 11.5 percent had obtained a master's degree or above.
Advanced education is extremely empowering for change toward more culturally competent care.
When advanced practice nurses and nursing leaders also are members of American Indian and Alaska Native groups, recognition of the valued components associated with culturally competent care become evident. There are varied local models of excellence created by teams of nurses keenly intent on improving the quality of care by attending to the basic culture-specific values and practices of people in their care. Much remains to be done, but there are trailblazers who have achieved and created important paths for us to follow. Bette Keltner, PhD, RN, FAAN, a member of the Alabama Nurses Association, is president of the National Alaska Native American Indian Nurse Association and assistant vice president at Honda of American Manufacturing, Marysville, Ohio.