Factors shaping Aboriginal nursing students’ experiences

Understanding Race and Racism in Nursing: Insights from Aboriginal Nurses

“…Motivated by difficulties in recruiting and retaining Aboriginal students into nursing programs, Martin and Kipling [18] interviewed Aboriginal nursing students, Aboriginal nurses, and nursing faculty members to explore what kinds of factors shaped students' experiences. Participants identified inadequate funding and lack of available childcare as significant challenges, and they identified personal issues, lack of social support, racism, and conflicts with teachers as negative factors affecting their experiences in nursing education.…”

Aboriginal Recruitment and Retention in Nursing Education: A Review of the Literature

“…Aboriginal student experiences highlight factors specific to living conditions, fears and anxieties, inadequate educational preparation, culture shock when relocating to urban areas, a lack of Indigenous mentors and financial hardship (Anonson, Desjarlais, Nixon, Whiteman, & Bird, 2008;Martin & Kipling, 2006;Usher, Lindsay, Miller, & Miller, 2005). Aboriginal student experiences highlight factors specific to living conditions, fears and anxieties, inadequate educational preparation, culture shock when relocating to urban areas, a lack of Indigenous mentors and financial hardship (Anonson, Desjarlais, Nixon, Whiteman, & Bird, 2008;Martin & Kipling, 2006;Usher, Lindsay, Miller, & Miller, 2005).…”

“…Similarly, Yurkovich (2001) argued that Aboriginal students who enter Euro-Anglo educational settings become "painfully aware that their values, beliefs, and practices are in conflict with many practices and procedures of the educational culture" (p. 268). The presence of culturally relevant social supports, such as Indigenous mentorship and role models in educational institutions (Anonson et al, 2008;Martin & Kipling, 2006;Turale & Miller, 2006;Usher, Cook et al, 2005;Usher, Lindsay, Miller et al, 2005), and appropriate tutoring (Anonson et al, 2008;Hobenshield, Scow & Drees, 2007) were found to positively influence Aboriginal nursing students' social experiences in university or college. This lack is perceived by Aboriginal students to be a considerable barrier to their academic success (Usher, Lindsay, Miller et al, 2005).…”

“…Many of the studies reviewed suggest that the difficulty that Aboriginal nursing students experience staying in university is also related to economic barriers, including financial hardship and inadequate funding (Association of Canadian Community Colleges [ACCC], 2005; Anonson et al, 2008;Arnault-Pelletier, Brown, Desjarlais, & McBeth, 2006;Malatest, 2002;Martin & Kipling, 2006). To address these difficulties, Goold and Usher (2006) and Gregory and Barsky (2007) among others, suggest that more financial support in the form of scholarships, bursaries, tuition waivers, and living allowances, as well as student loans, grants, travel allowances and childcare expenses are needed (INEWG, 2002;Labun, 2002;Malatest, 2002;Usher, Cook et al, 2005).…”

“…Colonial practices and relationships led to the subjugation and control of Aboriginal peoples across Canada and to ongoing systemic marginalization of First Nations, Inuit and Métis (NAHO, 2006;Martin & Kipling, 2006;Malatest, 2002;Tuhiwai Smith, 1999;Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1996). Colonial practices and relationships led to the subjugation and control of Aboriginal peoples across Canada and to ongoing systemic marginalization of First Nations, Inuit and Métis (NAHO, 2006;Martin & Kipling, 2006;Malatest, 2002;Tuhiwai Smith, 1999;Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1996).…”