Culturally congruent care

Salish Kootenai College’s Registered Nursing Program, focuses on providing culturally congruent care to Native American patients. The program seeks to address the lack of cultural competency in the healthcare industry.

The program includes a Native American studies course that covers the history and culture of the Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d’Oreille tribes. Additionally, the program encourages students to participate in cultural immersion experiences, like attending powwows and visiting tribal communities.

The nursing curriculum also emphasizes the importance of communication and respect when working with Native American patients. For example, students are taught to use the patient’s preferred name and to inquire about their cultural beliefs and practices.

The program’s approach has proven successful, with graduates reporting feeling better prepared to care for Native American patients. The college has also seen an increase in the number of Native American students enrolling in the program.

Full length article: https://tribalcollegejournal.org/culturally-congruent-care-salish-kootenai-colleges-registered-nursing-program/