Saturday June 16th, 2018

This week I have experienced generosity in more ways than I can count. First and foremost the instructors that were present during the trip were more than generous to provide their time and help putting this great experience together. Next the group of awesome peers I have that came together to bring in donations to give back to those that are less fortunate than we. Last but definitely not least the kind souls that I myself and my classmates encountered while in Cherokee and other surrounding towns. The people were very kind in the fact that a few shared with us THEIR story and their own personal insight. I felt welcomed at every facility and business that we entered. During my time in Cherokee, I learned about the Cherokee culture and what makes them unique. I think that every culture and person has something that makes them unique. I feel that there is a deep connection with the land, the spiritual and family. Knowing these little facts can prove very useful when or if caring for a person of Native American descent. During this time I think I also learned to look at people and their situations more holistically instead of strictly only medically. I think that to become healthier, education needs to be spread about the common ailments such as diabetes, obesity and addiction. Along with that I believe that treating the person as holistically as possible will make for the greatest outcome because of the depth of treatment that the patient obtains from it. Taking care of the mind, body and soul are more important than most people think. I think therapeutic communication between generations can help preserve the heritage as well by passing down stories, traditions and family history. If stories, traditions and family history are not passed down, the generations to come will then begin to believe the common 'white man' commercialized story of their ancestry and heritage instead of what was really happening. Know your roots. During this time we attended a church service at a local church. I am not one to usually attend at all. I myself do not practice, so I was a little nervous but after talking with the pastor and some of the members, it was clear that this offered a way to heal their pasts and right their wrongs and grow both personally and spiritually. The first day I was not sure what to expect and I think I had some biases as to how the people would act and how the town would look and some of the sights that I would see. After having been there for a week it was clear to see that all of my biases and preconceived notions were false. I have told myself that I will start to view people more holistically and do my best not to judge or assume anything about anyone without knowing THEIR story. I think that knowing their story is imperative in really knowing that person. I have been gratefully humbled; not only from the people that I met, but from the stories I have heard, the kindness of the community and the shear realization that although we seem relatively insignificant, a group of small-town individuals form Central Illinois have the ability to impact and change the lives of many, many people thousands of miles away by solely offering our time, a little politeness and some effort.

Friday June 15th, 2018

Some of the most critical issues that the culture in Cherokee experiences are the fact that their heritage is dying off with each passing of an elder, as well as the atrocities that were carried out by the settlers that still shadow the community today. There are still negative stigmas that go along with the Native people from others even in neighboring counties. I understand that some people have grown up with that mindset since they were young, but since I have been here, I have not been treated differently by any one person in the community. I have held many small conversations and greeted by most of those that I pass briefly. I noticed that some of the most common conditions through my clinical experience were obesity, diabetes and substance abuse. All the conditions noted above can be the result of genetics, culture and deficient knowledge. Education is an important part of healthcare and promoting optimal health. Although genetics does play a part in overall health, education can reduce the chances of exacerbating these issues. The nurse is the patient advocate and the educator and plays an important in the overall health of the patient. The nurse is promoting healthcare and tries to empower the patient through encouragement and education. The patient is the center of the healthcare system here in Cherokee. The patient is the center of healthcare at every hospital; however, I feel that some hospitals and healthcare systems place more emphasis on this. The patient is the focus in this area, with a bigger sight set on the community and their overall health. Community health starts with each individual patient and their health. To achieve an optimal community health, the nurse must educate the patients in proper health practices and advocate for them.

The children’s portion of Mission hospital had many resemblances of both OSF and Unity Point Methodist. I thought that they had a great model; however, I thought things could be improved in the NICU. In the NICU the patients were kept in warmers but in hallways. I feel that quitter environments in the form of single private rooms could be of benefit for this population. Through out pediatrics rotation at Unity Point, we did not get to see many pediatric patients. It is awesome to tour and get to see other units to possibly bring valuable ideas and concepts back to our facilities. Hospitalization often stresses children and families out due to being in new environments as well the stress of having medical conditions that warrant a stay in the hospital. Hospital stays are often very expensive even if there is no need for surgical intervention. The environment of Mission hospital was very inviting and interactive as well as appealing to children in the fact that the colors were bright and inviting, there were play areas for different age groups that even catered to parents in some cases. Procedure rooms were kept out and away from the children’s rooms because of the negative connotation that kids begin to create and, in some cases, take home. The environment in Asheville was more up-to-date and wealthier in some respects. It was more developed and busier with more fast food shops. In terms of child life, Asheville seemed more inviting, but the view of healthcare and care of children seemed continuous in comparison to Cherokee. The Cherokee environment was very conducive of outdoor activities to get children in touch with nature, which also seemed to carry over in to Asheville.  There seemed to be a lot of incorporation of nature within both facilities. The enthusiasm of the staff stood out to me the most today. All of the staff were very inviting and really seemed to love and enjoy their jobs. Amber was an awesome example of this. The staff all seemed to have a very high level of emotional intelligence which is imperative in providing great healthcare, not only for all patients, but pediatric patients specifically.

Wednesday June 13th, 2018

The children are raised to respect their elders and are brought up to remember their heritage and be proud of who you are. As I heard today, one of the biggest steps to recovery are owning up to your mistakes; everyone makes them but owning up to it and how you choose to better yourself and get past it are what help define a person. The children are being raised to help keep their culture alive and well. Parents and grandparents are passing down their history, their knowledge and the Cherokee language to keep what the Natives have left, alive and growing. The elders of the culture have the most respect because of the knowledge that they possess. The history of the Natives is largely passed down by word of mouth and storytelling. As the elders begin to pass, their knowledge, wisdom and traditions of the culture go with them if not passed down. The structure of the family is very matriarchal. We were told that often during conflict, the most honorable woman decided whether they went to war or not; the women and mothers had the final say. It is not out of the usual for families to live with their grandparents or other members of the family. The support systems in the community is the community. Many members share similar stories and find comfort in sharing their stories and bonding with others that have gone through similar experiences. It is important for individuals to talk about their problems and what is bothering them in order to connect with others that may be going through similar circumstances. Generational trauma is a common emotional experience among members of the Native people. Having others that can identify with you with similar issues can offer a sort of comfort in that you know that some one else out there understand what you are going through and experiencing. The support system often comes from others within the community; whether it be family, friends, church members, healthcare professionals, elders or tribal leaders. The culture is very receptive to helping their own and making sure that others know they have support if they need it. Most children and families that are resilient have some sort of trauma that they have faced in their life. Whether it be generational guilt, substance abuse, both being a user and the loved one of a user or being subject to biased opinions and prejudice.

Tuesday June 12th, 2018

The Tribal Council oversees the operation of the facility, but it is ran by the hospital administration. The members of the health care team consist of the Doctors, Nurses, CNA’s, and the patient are all a part of the health care team. The patient is assessed to determine their needs and the severity of the situation and handled appropriately. It some situations it was said that in cases that patients needed to detox, the medical staff would find some way to keep the patient there to help them. In certain instances, the healthcare for Natives is free. This includes, medical, dental and eye as well as detox. Many of the similarities were seen in the care provided to the patients as well as the equipment that is used. Many of the differences that I noticed involved the care given to the patients from the nurses. The healthcare staff seemed to show a lot of emotional intelligence. The staff was also very supportive and understanding of the patients’ situation and reason for admittance. Within the healthcare model they feel very strong about holistic care and are very firm believers in that to adequately care for the patient, all aspects of their health need to be addressed. There are many complementary and alternative therapy practiced in the form of acupuncture, yoga, tai-chi, therapeutic touch, reflection and herbal remedies. We were able to witness jewel weed being used to treat ant bites at the Native village by one of the guides. The care model used I think is one that could be utilized in many other aspects of the country to improve patient satisfaction and improve patient outcomes.

Monday June 11th, 2018

The environment is incorporated into many aspects of every day life here. It seems that nature is relatively undisturbed as far as urban development goes and it seems to be common that people of all ages respect it. There does not seem to be a lot of trash on the road ways or in the ditches. Every where looks very clean aside from old trailers or heavy equipment. In Peoria, there does not seem to be the same general respect for the environment as there is garbage littering the roadways. I find it very interesting that they explain many of the creations and reasonings as for why things are the way that they are. For example, the water beetle and how it went down to the bottom of the ocean and brought up mud to create land.  Personally, I feel that I hold many of the same beliefs and values as their own. Doing the majority of my maturing in a small midwestern town, I learned to respect elders and treat others as I wish to be treated. I also grew up with the notion that the land provides for us, so we should take care of it. There is beauty in nature that I have been able to see through the sport of hunting that many people do not get the chance to observe. I value the opinion of my elders and although I may not always agree, I always listen to what they have to say; for most of the time, they are right. The children are raised in ways that try to keep many family traditions and cultural traditions alive. The children are taught about the history of their ancestors and their cultural history in general so that information is never lost. Many aspects of the cultural are said to be dying. To combat this, many elders and parents are attempting to teach families the native language. Throughout the community there are interactive areas for children so that they can be exposed to nature and their heritage at a young age. I noticed that the Native People and the community in general are polite. I had been asked how my day was going, and had many small conversations started by strangers that talked to me as if they knew me for many years. Thus far, I feel welcomed within the community; however, I remain very respectful to those that live here. I am an outsider and in their home.

Sunday June 10th 2018

In the days to come I am most excited to learn about the Native American perspective on life in general. I find it very interesting to gain more knowledge about how other cultures and demographics view life and healthcare. I do not really know much about the history of Native Americans and am afraid that I may accidentally offend someone due to my ignorance. Socially and culturally there is an understood respect for their elders that goes without saying. Culturally there is a strong backing to save and hold on to what traditions are.   I think Native American people have a strong sense in tradition and grounding with the earth and all it provides. I find it very interesting on how certain aspects of creation are viewed and the logic as to how all matter is created as well as the reasoning behind it. I do have some bias and prejudices coming in to this immersion experience and I think mostly it is the result of ignorance and not being taught well enough about the actual happenings and atrocities that the European settlers committed. I do not think that we are taught about this subject enough through out school and are only taught the ‘watered down’ ‘Americanized’ version of these instances. I am excited to expand broaden my views and expand my cultural knowledge.