ANA Nursing Profession Support Program 
ANA Nursing Profession Support Program
Program History
In 1993, ANA established the Nurse Mentor Program in conjunction with the Reohoboth
McKinley Christian Hospital in Gallup, New Mexico, the University of New Mexico,
Doylestown Hospital in Pennsylvania, and the Zuni Nation to improve the delivery
system for health care to the remote areas of the reservations.
This program was structured with the concept of a "mentor" who was the single instructor for the nurses' studies at the University of New Mexico, and also accompanied the student nurses to Pennsylvania for two weeks twice a year for clinical experience at Doylestown Hospital.
Our Current
Activities and Goals
The two main priorities of the Nursing Support program of ANA include
scholarships and donations to support Native American Nursing Students attending school at
the University of New Mexico (UNM)-Gallup in Gallup, New Mexico. This program is the only
nursing program in a very wide geographic area.
Recently we awarded six individual $500 scholarships to deserving nursing students at UNM-Gallup. We have posted their pictures and excerpts from their application letters. Click here to read their letters.
Additional scholarships
for Native American students will be developed through donations
to the University of New Mexico in Gallup. Donations are being sought at $500, $1000,
$2000 and $5000 levels for individual students. Students will be selected to receive the
scholarships based on established criteria. ANA will continue to get feedback and follow
up on the students selected and their progress in the nursing program.
There is a great need for improvements in health care for Native
Americans who experience numerous health problems. Native Americans suffer from twice the
incidence of alcohol abuse, a higher incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer, an increased
incidence of hypertension and diabetes, and a higher incidence of renal (kidney) disease
than the general U.S. population. There also exist disparities in health care and access
to health concerns for this population.
Native Americans interested in becoming nurses face many barriers, including disparities
in educational opportunities K-12, a lack of tools - such as computers - for learning,
general poverty, and poor nutrition. Government funding makes attending nursing school a
possibility for some, but their families feel the burden of some expenses as well as lost
wages while the student is in school. Earning an associate’s degree is an
extraordinary accomplishment for those in this situation, but the profession also needs
Native American nurses with advanced degrees to teach incoming students and to work as in
the community in advanced nursing roles. Support through scholarships can help ease the
burden facing some Native American students who may already face some disadvantages in
just getting into competitive nursing school environments.
Additionally donations of any
amount would be greatly appreciated to support our Student Nurse-Mentoring Program. This
program is being developed with the School of Nursing at Catholic University, Washington
DC. The goal of this program is to support Native American students at the University of
New Mexico, Gallup, through a student exchange and visit to DC that opens the students
eyes up to advanced practice nursing roles, advanced practice nursing scholarships and
degree opportunities, and developing students into future nurse leaders and faculty that
support the Native American community in the long term.
For more details on the Nursing Support Program, contact Cheryl Mee: 800.523.1649 ext. 3154 or c.mee@elsevier.com.
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Date this page was last edited: 08/20/2009