Caring For the Community
Demographics
The Native Americans total up to around 3 million. 32% of the population are under the age of 18, and 73% considered to be family households. The median age for native Americas living on reservations is around 26 years and for those living outside reservations is around 30 years. About 71% of the Native Americans are likely to graduate from high school (Minnis & Elisens, 2000).
Social factors
Native America is diverse in culture. It currently comprises of over 170 social and political formations. They comprise of tribes, bands and ethnic groups. Traditionally, the Native Americans were nomadic hunters, however, the federal government has tried to transform them and integrate them through urbanization. The Native Americans believe in traditional rituals and ceremonies (Minnis & Elisens, 2000). They believed that such ceremonies would provide power for conquering difficulties of life. Most of us believe in God as a supreme ruler, however, this is not the case with the Native Americans. In terms of wealth, Native Americans have increased their wealth through economic development activities. The Native Americans’ tribes have taken control over their natural resources hence becoming players in the country’s energy sector. However, in spite of all these developments, Native Americans are still regarded as the most disadvantaged populations in America. Most Native Americans have a lower homeownership rate compared to other Americans (Minnis & Elisens, 2000). They tend to own homes less worth than the whites, yet in America, a home is a key determinant of wealth. Due to that, Native Americans are regarded to be less wealthy.
Income
Native Americans are characterized by a high rate of poverty due to high unemployment rate counterparts, African Americans and Hispanics as it is shown in the figure. However, as per the current statistics, incomes among the Native Americans have varied depending on the location (Wilkins, 2007). Due to the fact that Native Americans have a right for any job as long as their qualifications allow, some of them today, are working as scientists, teachers, doctors and many other professions hence increasing their incomes. Those without education work as laborers in the reservations. Therefore, study says that the Native Americans have experienced a significant rise in the level of incomes as many of them are now acquiring education.
Access to health care
Native Americans face disparities in health care which include barriers of accessing health care and poor health status. Policies have always been put in place to help the government fund the health service demands of the Native Americans (Kriel, 2014). Medicaid plays a significant role in providing health care to the Native Americans. They can get health care at Indian Health Service or their tribally run facilities (Kriel, 2014). However, there are gaps in the care provided by these facilities. Most of these facilities provide primary care services. Additionally, these facilities are located far away from the native people which make it difficult for some people to access. Thus, there is a high death rate of the Native people compared to other Americans.
Implications for community health nursing
The implication of the community health nursing is to address all the dangers affecting the health of the community. Community health nurses educate the people about all the dangers and ways of prevention. Health care educational programs help in addressing such dangers.
References
Minnis, P. E., & Elisens, W. J. (2000). Biodiversity and Native America. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
Kriel, T. (2014). Health disparity and Native American/Native Alaskan population.
Wilkins, D. E. (2007). American Indian politics and the American political system. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield.
