Contemporary Indigenous Health

Running head: CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS HEALTH
Contemporary Indigenous Health
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

1CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS HEALTH
Indigenous population living in remote communities suffer from poor health status and
longevity as compared to other Australians, the imbalance is to be addressed by healthcare
professionals by ensuring optimal quality care devoid of discrimination and injustice. Nurses
play a significant role in the improvement of health and wellbeing of indigenous people, and they
require both cultural respect and clinical skills to do so (Hunt et al. 2015). The RN Standards,
UTS Graduate attributes, and Indigenous Graduate attributes guide decision making of nurses
while caring for this section of the population. The present essay focuses on contemporary
indigenous health and wellbeing from the nurse’s point of view and puts up a reflection on
personal experience in this regard. The essay first highlights the assumptions made prior to
providing nursing care for indigenous people. The second section of the essay reflects on
personal experience using Gibb’s reflection model. The consecutive part of the essay puts
forward an action plan based on the conclusion drawn from the reflection. The essay provides a
logical conclusion to the comprehensive discussion.
As a nurse, I understand that I am accountable for providing safe and high quality care to
the patients presenting diverse health issues and concerns. In this regard, I would like to mention
that I lacked a clear knowledge of the requisites of providing secured and culturally competent
care to individuals belonging to the indigenous groups. Prior to delivery of care to the indigenous
population, I had the assumption that I lacked adequate skills and knowledge imperative for
caring for the indigenous population. I strongly felt that I was not well equipped and
knowledgeable about the attributes one must possess while caring for the vulnerable population.
At this juncture, I would like to highlight that I felt the need of addressing my inability to
demonstrate appropriate skills while caring for an indigenous population. Communication, in my
viewpoint, is the most crucial factor while a nurse is caring for a patient. I believed that I lacked

2CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS HEALTH
effective communication skills that would enable me to care for patients from diverse
backgrounds. According to Ramjan, Hunt and Salamonson (2016) nurses are to be aware of the
differences in nonverbal and verbal communication needs of the indigenous and nonindigenous
population. Further, they must appreciate the cultural and linguistic aspects of interactions
demonstrated by this group. Recognizing chances of miscommunication is a crucial aspect that
nurses must address while delivering care. Devitt et al. (2017) in this regard highlighted that
nurses must understand the adverse consequences of communication breakdown when a patient
is unable to express his viewpoints and opinions. Molloy (2017) pinpointed that effective health
care communication between care providers and indigenous patients witnesses numerous
challenges. These barriers are to be overcome at every stage by nurses in a competent manner.
Prior to commencing CIHWB, I was apprehensive of the outcomes that were to be
experienced as a result of caring for patients from the indigenous population. I was looking
forward to translate my minimal skills and knowledge into practice. My aim was to learn from
experiences and engage in professional development for future practices. I was hopeful that
CIHWB would be a fulfilling experience, providing me the opportunity to determine my key
strengths and weaknesses that I need to work on at an immediate basis.
Coming to the next part of the essay, personal experience regarding CIHWB would be
explained with the help of Gibb’s reflective cycle. Reflective writing with the help of an
established framework is a deliberate and active process of critically examining practice. A nurse
is challenged to undertake the process of self-inquiry. Gibb's reflective cycle permits a
systematic and structured analysis and reflection of any selected experience (McEwen & Wills
2017). With this reflection, I would be able to look deep into my experience and feelings with
successful interpretation of the same. The key events from CIHWB summer sessions pertained to