Date
5-16-2024
Department
School of Nursing
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Chair
Martha C. Baker
Keywords
Alaska Native, nursing, health disparities, self-motivation, cultural identity
Disciplines
Nursing
Recommended Citation
Gilliland, Denise Michelle, "The Experiences of Alaska Native Students' Decision to Enter Nursing School: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5541.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5541
Abstract
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology study was to examine the lived experiences of Alaska Native students’ decisions to enter nursing school, thus choosing nursing as a career. The increased recruitment of Alaska Natives into nursing is imperative. According to the research, a direct association exists between increasing the number of minority nurses and decreasing health inequities. Despite the demand, only a small number of Alaska Native students continue to enroll in nursing programs in Alaska. The theories guiding this study were Ryan and Deci’s self-determination theory and Lowe and Struthers’s theory of nursing in Native American culture. They provided a foundation for understanding how motivation, self-determination, and culture can play a role in students’ decisions to pursue a degree in nursing. Through this qualitative study, the researcher aimed to answer the following central research question: What are the lived experiences of Alaska Native students deciding to enter nursing school? The sample included 10 Alaska Native students and graduates from the Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) programs at a small university in Southcentral, Alaska. The triangulation of data were collected through observations, demographic questionnaires, and interviews with Alaska Native nursing students from the university. Data was then analyzed using NVivo 14 qualitative analysis computer software. The findings of this student indicate that Alaska Native students’ self-motivation, identity as an Alaska Native, college transition and support, and responsibility to their community influenced their decision to enroll in the nursing program. The study's findings support the need for change in Alaska's educational system and offer solutions to encourage more Alaska Native people to explore nursing as a career.
