Utilising Culturally Congruent Strategies to Enhance Recruitment and Retention of Australian Indigenous Nursing Students

Abstract

Recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) nursing students has been the concern of many faculties of nursing across Australia for some time. Multiple factors and issues have been raised to address recruitment, and most important retention, of ATSI students in undergraduate nursing programs. This article, through a review of the literature, explores and describes discoveries and discusses the importance of culturally meaningful strategies and knowledge as significant in addressing this core issue. Strategies for change in relation to curriculum design and faculty education in transcultural nursing are described.