Building Bridges: Using Data to Improve Service-Learning Experiences With a Chippewa Cree Community

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Cultural Competency
• Academic-Community Partnerships

Background:

• Building trust between tribal members and non-native healthcare providers requires cultural competency and awareness.
• Chippewa Cree leaders and Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) partnered for a service-learning project.
• The project involved a children's summer day camp, Camp Mi-yo-mah-chi-wi-n, meaning "to be well".

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess cultural competency among graduate nursing students.
• Identify evidence-based curricula for future academic-community activities.
• Demonstrate a mutually agreed-upon mental health model for subsequent camps.

Main Methods:

• A post-camp survey and key informant session were conducted.
• Eleven graduate nursing students and Chippewa Cree volunteers participated.
• The study involved a two-group evaluation at the conclusion of the youth camp.

Main Results:

• Participants reported a positive and meaningful camp experience.
• The academic-community partnership was deemed worthy of cultivation and sustainability.
• Graduate nursing students desired enhanced cultural knowledge and competence for providing care in collaboration with tribal volunteers.

Conclusions:

• Service learning effectively strengthens mutually beneficial academic-clinical partnerships.
• Student preparation should emphasize knowledge, beliefs, and cultural competency.
• This approach fosters trust and improves relationships between diverse communities and healthcare providers.