Wy'east Nursing Pathway
The Wy'east Nursing Pathway is a post-baccalaureate pathway for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) committed to a nursing career. The Pathway provides a holistic, culturally-aligned framework to prepare scholars to excel as nursing students and throughout their careers.
Through a partnership between the OHSU School of Nursing and the Northwest Native American Centre of Excellence (NNACOE), the Pathway will recruit, educate, and retain AI/ANs into Accelerated Baccalaureate of Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs to address critical workforce needs.
The Pathway aims to address barriers to nursing school by providing academic, financial, and social support including preparatory classes, writing and learning resources, stipends for participation, advising and mentorship, and culturally-specific content, all in the context of a rigorous academic enhancement curriculum.
The Pathway is currently under development, with more information to come soon. Feel free to reach out with any questions by emailing nativehealth@ohsu.edu .
Related links
- A Conceptual Framework of Nursing in Native American Culture
- A Concept Analysis: Hope and Nursing Education
- A Brief Overview of the History of American Indian Nurses
- Balance and Harmony through Connectedness: The Intentionality of Native American Nurses
- Broken Treaties: An Oral History Tracing Oregon’s Native Population
Funding support
The Northwest Native American Center of Excellence at OHSU is made possible through a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the OHSU School of Medicine and the support of all 43 tribes in the Pacific Northwest.
The Wy’east Nursing Pathway is supported through state-legislated funding, via HB 5202, as well as the OHSU School of Nursing.
We would like to hear from you
If you are a Native student or alumna of the School of Nursing, we invite you to participate in an interview or focus group where we can learn about your experiences and your ideas on what to include in a unique nursing pathway for Native students. Your efforts will help cultivate a supportive educational system for future Native nurses at OHSU School of Nursing. For more information, contact Morgan Torris-Hedlund at torrishe@ohsu.edu.
The Principal Investigator for this project is Cynthia Perry, a professor in the School of Nursing. IRB #25450