The journey: learning to listen, listening to learn
Date
2012-08-08
Authors
Pynn, Debra
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Abstract
This paper describes the development and content of a workshop in the orientation of
novice nurses to the aboriginal health nursing setting. While it uses the context of remote
area nursing to act as the backdrop for the orientation, it is the author’s contention that the
material could easily be transitioned and applied to First Nations health centres in the urban
and community health setting.
The project uses a metaphoric canoe journey, story telling and role play as pedagogical
tools to enhance and challenge nurse’s ways of knowing and ways of being within this unique
context. It contests the historical, mechanistic, biomedical worldview that has predominated
health care delivery in First Nations communities with one that is more contextually
appropriate and addresses relational practice, embodiment, self awareness and contextual
understanding (i.e. cultural, historical, social, ecological and political context) as foundational
building blocks for remote area practice in First Nations.
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Keywords
First Nations, aboriginal health, novice nurses, remote area, health centres, urban health, community health