Holistic approach to resolving American Indian/Alaska Native health care disparities

There is increasing public attention on the health care disparities that exist among minority populations. Recent focus is on the need to identify ways health disparities can be reduced. The American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations are minorities experiencing grave health care disparities. From a Native view, what adversely affects 1 part of society ultimately impacts the rest of it. It is necessary to keep the Native population as healthy as possible for the United States to maintain its health as a nation. Holistic nursing, with its core value of cultural diversity, is an ideal framework in which to foster promotion and maintenance of health for AI/AN people. The purpose of this article is to describe some of the health care disparities experienced by Native people and holistic approaches for resolution. These approaches include providing culturally appropriate health education, promoting educational opportunities in nursing for AI/AN people, and mentoring Native nursing students and new nurses.