Nina Sivertsen

Circumpolar Nursing:: Exploring Sámi Nurses' Experience of Culture in Their Practice Nina Sivertsen

This book is based on a study that explored Sámi nurses? culture, identity and traditions in their practice in rural, arctic areas of Norway. Overall, ruralism was not considered a challenge, but connected to decreased recruitment and retention of workforce. Appreciating traditional ways of nursing and healing, a strong sense of separating what was allowed at work/private time was conveyed, causing a view of their nursing job as something Norwegian, and perhaps a little ?un-Sámi?. Challenges were perceptions of self-worth among Sámi people themselves, language problems, and a sense of lack of understanding of their Sámi culture from non-Sámi colleagues. All had clear visions of uniting in a Sámi nursing organization to enhance themselves as a group. Advice for existing or prospective nurses: Reflect and be aware of your Sámi background. A central finding was for the discipline of nursing in Norway, Sámi nurses? perspectives clearly need to be considered. Not only for improving cross-cultural and cross-linguistic difficulties, but also for increasing numbers of the Sámi workforce itself. Particularly to appreciate more fully the contribution Sámi nurses might make to Sámi health.