Authors

  1. Horrill, Tara C. PhD, RN
  2. Martin, Donna E. PhD, RN
  3. Lavoie, Josee G. PhD
  4. Schultz, Annette S. H. PhD, RN

Abstract

Inequitable access to oncology care is a significant issue among Indigenous Peoples in Canada; however, the perspectives of oncology nurses have not been explored. Guided by an interpretive descriptive methodology, we explored nurses' perspectives on access to oncology care among Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Nurses described the health care system as "broken" and barriers to accessing oncology care as layered and compounding. Lack of culturally safe care was articulated as a significant issue impacting equitable access, while biomedical discourses were pervasive and competed with nurses' attempts at providing culturally safe and trauma- and violence-informed care by discounting the relational work of nurses.