There is a great need to increase the number of Native Americans in the nursing profession. To encourage persistence among Native American nursing students, the Native American Nursing Education Center (NANEC) was founded. The foundational concepts of NANEC began with Talking Circles that took place in seven Native American communities in SD, where students identified areas that would help support
success, including financial, academic, social, and cultural support. Native Americans represent 10% of SD’s population, but make up less than 1% of the nursing workforce. NANEC was established to support Native American nursing students at South Dakota State University to help diversify the nursing healthcare workforce. To address financial hardships that Native American nursing students face, NANEC offers financial assistance through stipends and emergency funds. Most of the students served are first-generation and have families to care for. In addition, NANEC partners with the Great Plains NA Nurses Association (GPNANA) to mitigate issues with food insecurity and transportation problems by providing donated gift cards to meet the basic needs of the students. Academic and social support are provided through the intentional mentoring program and academic advisor. The NANEC academic advisor identifies as NA and initiates the feeling of tiospaye (extended family) among students prior to visiting with mentors. Mentoring is conducted by two masters-prepared nurse mentors, both of whom identify as Native American and have combined nursing background of nearly a century. Mentoring includes monthly one-on-one meetings where mentors create an environment of trust and promote students to reveal their academic progress, personal challenges, and successes. This relationship with mentors further promotes the concept of tiospaye, creating a feeling of connectedness and sense of belonging among Native American nursing students. To offer cultural support for Native American nursing students, NANEC offers monthly Wohanpi na Wounspe (Soup & Learn) events, which include presentations provided by Native American speakers on culturally relevant topics that promote cultural identity development. Grounded in Lakota values, NANEC also honors students through a traditional honoring ceremony to commemorate their accomplishments
The NANEC Model promotes student retention and persistence, and areas of financial, academic, social, and cultural needs are met through programming and holistic support provided by faculty and staff.
