Mentorship for Nursing in a Rural Area: A Program for Success for Working with Diverse Populations

Authors

  • Karine Crow Northern Arizona University
  • Margaret M Conger Northern Arizona University
  • Ursula Knoki-Wilson Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility and Navajoland Nurses United for Research, Service and Education, Inc. (N-NURSE)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v11i2.24

Abstract

Rural areas often face severe nurse shortages that result in many challenges to health care agencies located there. Of particular concern is the need for preparing nurses from urban areas to the realities of rural practice. The Navajoland Nurses United for Research, Service, and Education, Inc. (N-NURSE) developed a culturally based mentorship program entitled the Navajo Nursing Pathway of Mentorship © 2004 to meet this need. The program is used to support nurses in their transition to rural practice. The newly hired nurses attend a workshop and can be assigned a mentor who serves as a cultural bridge builder to assist them with their transition to rural practice in a culturally diverse area.

Key Words: Rural/Frontier Nursing, Mentorship, Preceptorship, Culture, American Indian

Author Biographies

  • Karine Crow, Northern Arizona University

    Ph.D., RN, Associate Professor, Coordinator, American Indian Program. School of Nursing

  • Margaret M Conger, Northern Arizona University
    RN, MSN, Ed.D., Emeritus Professor, School of Nursing
  • Ursula Knoki-Wilson, Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility and Navajoland Nurses United for Research, Service and Education, Inc. (N-NURSE)
    BSN, MSN, MPH, RN Director, Nurse-Midwifery & Community Liaison, Office of CEO for Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility; Co-Founder and President of Navajoland Nurses United for Research, Service and Education, Inc. (N-NURSE)

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Published

2011-09-22

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Section

Articles