Raising awareness of the importance of incorporating mandatory Indigenous health courses in nursing curriculum

What’s the issue?

• In Canada, Indigenous people suffer from some of the greatest health disparities of any other population in the country. Their social determinants of health such as income, housing, employment, infrastructure, and education rank among the lowest in the country and have been compared to that of developing nations. Nevertheless, nursing programs across Ontario have yet to adopt mandatory indigenous courses as part of the nursing curriculum. 

Why aren’t these courses mandatory? 

• A lack of recognition of the importance of cultural competence and cultural safety in nursing practice, especially in terms of Indigenous culture. Cultural competence: “a set of congruent behaviours, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals, and enables [them] to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.” Cultural safety: “understanding power differentials inherent in health service delivery and redressing these inequities through educational processes.” 
• Racism still exists in Canada. Historically from colonization, to the implementations of residential schools, to lack of support from our current government, racism contributes to the continual suffering and health inequities experienced by Indigenous populations.

What needs to be done?  

• Further policy actions are needed to address systemic racism and the shortage of cultural competence and cultural safety.
• Increase awareness and fight for change!
• Need to continue to advocate for vulnerable populations in order to achieve health equity for all!

References:

CNA. (2014, July). Aboriginal health nursing and Aboriginal health: Charting policy direction for nursing in Canada.Canadian Nurses Association, Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/aboriginal-health-nursing-and-aboriginal-health_charting-policy-direction-for-nursing-in-canada.pdf?la=en

Rammohan, I. (2019, September 16). Why do Canada’s Indigenous people face worse health outcomes than non-Indigenous people? The Varsity. Retrieved from https://thevarsity.ca/2019/09/15/why-do-canadas-indigenous-people-face-worse-health-outcomes-than-non-indigenous-people/