Honors Program Capstone Defense for Emily Donahue

Honors Program senior student, Emily Donahue, will be presenting her Honors Capstone titled, Understanding Suicide in the Navajo Population , on Wednesday, April 19th, at 6:00pm in Schar 203.

Donahue's abstract reads, "Suicide is the second leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaskan Natives.  The suicide rate for the Navajo population is more than double the national rate, which indicates suicide is a significant problem on the Navajo Reservation. The objective of this qualitative research was to glean insight about suicide in the Navajo population. This study used a convenience purposive sampling method. After approval from the university human subjects review board, eight informants who previously lived or worked on the Navajo Reservation were interviewed. Informants are individuals with exposure and/or experience with suicide on the Navajo reservation. The approximate length of interviews was thirty minutes. Narrative data from the interviews was transcribed and analyzed using a content analysis technique to identify emerging themes pertaining to perceptions about Navajo suicide. The researcher and the faculty mentor individually and together reviewed the data for key words, phrases, and then themes. Data was then additionally reviewed by a doctorally prepared reviewer with a final comparison as a cross check. Themes noted were hopelessness, social issues, and culture. Findings from this research project will improve understanding about perception of the problem, knowledge of existing mental health services, and cultural aspects important to the Navajo population that should be considered in interventions and education about suicide prevention."

Emily Donahue was born in Mansfield, Ohio on August 17, 1995. She grew up in the Mansfield area, graduating from Shelby Senior High School in 2013. At Ashland University, Emily is an honors baccalaureate nursing student at the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International and Alpha Lambda Delta. Emily is a participant of the Navajo Cultural Immersion course and has traveled to the Navajo Reservation in Arizona twice for a week long immersion. This experience has helped her broaden her intellectual and social horizons, and expanded her knowledge of working with diverse populations. Most recently, Emily has disseminated her Honors Capstone research findings at a regional scholarly meeting and a national nursing conference. Additionally, Emily serves as a peer mentor for both the Honors Program and Nursing Program, works part-time as an academic tutor and a patient care assistant, and has been on the Dean's List for seven semesters. Upon graduation, Emily plans to work as a registered nurse, pursuing a career in critical care nursing. Emily also plans on attending graduate school in the future.

Professor Sharon See, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing, served as Donahue's mentor for the project.


All are invited and encouraged to attend.

Update: Navajo Immersion

Erin Seifert, Kaley Harrison, Emily Wood & Hannah Wetzel
at the Tsehootooi Medical Center

Monday through Wednesday students enjoyed observational experiences at the Tsehootsooi Medical Center and traveling around the reservation with the Home Based Care nurses.  The hospital experiences correlated well and validated the cultural assessment information learned during the HS 380 Navajo Reservation Cultural Immersion course.

The bilingual Home Based Care nurses were very open and accepting of each student. Sharing an insider’s perspective during the visits to patient homes made the experiences more meaningful. We appreciate their giving nature and kindness which is characteristic of the Navajo culture.

Kristy Getz had a great day in Labor and Delivery and had the privilege to be present for a birth! A moment she will treasure and never forget! This was
absolutely one of our hospital highlights.

Allison Lester & Alyssa Beto on a drive from a Home Care visit

Some students spent time with Wes Kyser and John

Wes Kyser & John Horst in the ICU

Horst on the ICU unit. Both Wes and John graduated from the AU nursing program in 2014 and are alumni of the Navajo course as well. Wes and John shared with student their experiences coming to the Rez, and transitioning to Reservation life. Nursing administrators had great things to say about John and Wes. It was a great for current students to see firsthand one of the opportunities available to professional nurses.

Emily Donahue and faculty leaders Nancy Thorne and Sharon See attended an Navajo Human Research Review Board meeting to learn more about the procedures required to conduct research on the Reservation.

Tonight we are headed to Rio Puerco youth center… be on the lookout from some pictures from there and our hike at the Window Rock!

Wes Kyser, a staff RN, and John Horst

Nursing Students Visit Arizona for Navajo Immersion

Students from the Navajo Cultural Immersion course landed safely in Albuquerque, NM over the weekend. Each Spring, the course sends nursing students to study Native American culture in Window Rock, Arizona. They also are placed with nurses at the Tsehootsooi Medical Center in Fort Defiance (AZ). Below are a few pictures of their experience so far. Watch for more updates as they send more pictures from the Navajo Reservation!

The students with Sharon See MSN, RNC-OB and Nancy Thorne MSN, RN
at the airport as they land in Albuquerque, NM.

Students outside the Tsehootsooi Medical Center in Fort Defiance, AZ.

The students outside the Chuch Street Cafe in Albuquerque.

Students at the Navajo Nation Window Rock.

Navajo Children Receive Christmas Surprise from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences

The Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences Student Nurse Association (SNA) participated in the Navajo Reservation Shoebox Christmas program this past year.   Students, faculty, and friends purchased small toys, educational supplies, mittens, hats, gloves, and other items for the children on the reservation.  The College of Nursing sent 50 decorated shoeboxes full of small gifts to the Rio Puerco Community Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona.  The College of Nursing Alumni Association generously donated $150 towards the mailing of these shoeboxes.

This project was extra special for those students who took the Navajo Cultural Immersion course Spring Semester 2012.  During the week long immersion trip, nursing students had the opportunity to interact and build relationships with these children.

The SNA would like to thank everyone who participated in this project for their generous donations and hard work.  The Navajo children, their families, and the staff of Rio Puerco Community Center are grateful and pass their blessings to you this holiday season.

 

Navajo Cultural Immersion Takes College of Nursing Students to New Heights

Wesley Kyser and Cindy Dowds (front)

Kelsey Thiel, Whitney Hooley, Sharon See, Jacoby Baab, and Emily Thorne (back)

A 3 credit hour elective Navajo Reservation Cultural Immersion course was the basis for a recent week long immersion at the 16 million acre Navajo reservation in Arizona.  The trip was led by Ashland University nursing faculty Sharon See and Cindy Dowds.  Prior to the immersion, students studied culture care theory and collected baseline holding knowledge of the Navajo people.

Code Talker Wilford Buck with Jacoby and Wesley.

On the reservation, students worked with home care nurses at Tsehootsooi Medical Center in Fort Defiance and with children at the Navajo Youth Center in Window Rock.  During one of their home visits, students were thrilled to meet one of the only two living Navajo Code Talkers,  Wilford Buck.  During World War II the Code Talkers' primary job was to talk, transmitting information on tactics and troop movements, orders and other vital battlefield communications over telephones and radios.  Because they spoke in Navajo, the information was unintelligible to the Japanese.  Students went on many other memorable home visits. 

Emily loved the elderly patients.  This woman asked to be called "Grandma."

 Other highlights of the trip were holding two picnics for the children at the youth center, hiking the majestic Canyon De Chelly with a Navajo guide, and visiting the hogan of traditional healer Aaron Sams.

Picnic at the youth center.

Fun times with the children.

Throughout the immersion, students took photos to be compiled for a photographic representation of the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence, which has been accepted for a poster presentation at the Transcultural Nursing Society Conference in Orlando, Florida in October 2012. The course will be offered again in 2013.

New Navajo Reservation Cultural Immersion Course!

Nursing Faculty Cindy Dowds and Sharon See are thrilled to announce a new cultural immersion course offered to College of Nursing students.  The Navajo Reservation Cultural Immersion course will be offered to junior and senior nursing students in Spring Semester (pending final administrative approval).  The course will conclude with a week long immersion May 6-12, 2012.