Who cares: A nurse’s fight for equity – Podcast

A new documentary highlights the vital role nurses play in the wellbeing and support of their communities.

The 30-minute film 'Who cares: A nurse's fight for equity' follows nurse Whitney Fear who works at Family Healthcare, a health centre in Fargo, North Dakota (USA).

In her psychiatric clinic, she treats people with behavioural health and substance abuse disorders while taking a holistic, trauma-informed approach.

"Something we know is important for approaching patients is asking people what they want from their care and what they think is possible, because that is communicative of respect, rather than compliance."

Growing up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, an area with the lowest life expectancy in the nation, she channels her personal background into supporting people.

She emphasises the necessity of understanding cultural backgrounds, being from a Native American tribe herself.

"Native American people are vastly underrepresented in the nursing workforce but we are also on the other end of the spectrum, drastically overrepresented in the prevalence of chronic health conditions."

Nursing Review spoke with MSN, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, Whitney Fear about what equity means to her, and the personal experiences that shaped how she helps people as a nurse.

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