Welcome to the Resource Guide for Transcultural Nursing/ Indian Health Services. Use the tabs above to locate resources. If you need help, please don't hesitate to ask, even when you're in Arizona in May! We're always happy to help! 

 Nurse Harriet Curley takes the pulse of a Navajo patient waiting in the dispensary of the Sage Memorial Hospital, Ganado Mission, Arizona, Dec. 14, 1949. (AP Photo)

From the AP Images database, AU Library.

 Learning about a culture different than one’s own is exciting and rewarding.  Your research will be more successful if you use a few tips.

The names of many countries or cultures have changed over time. When you begin your research, make sure to determine if multiple terms have been used for the selected country or culture, and try to use each of the names when you do your research. 

• Some information on the Navajo culture use the word Navajo, while other terms are Navaho or Diné (the term preferred by the Navajo people). There has been a return to using native language so more information may discovered if you consider using both languages in your search if possible.
• You may have to experiment with the labels Native Americans, Indigenous Americans (or Peoples), or North American Indians.

Just as language differs, so do key cultural concepts. Be aware that not all cultures are organized the same way.  Health issues in many cultures may be understood in terms of art or religion, rather than as a medical issue.

• Think of other ways to express an idea. Rather than just searching for Italy or Italian, try broadening your search to Mediterranean, or narrowing your search to Venice, Rome or Tuscany.  Or flip your idea--If you are looking for information about the religion of Italy, try looking in a book about world religion and finding a chapter about Italy.         
• Avoid searching for complex concepts like "Religion of Italy in the 20th Century."  Use simple nouns in your search and link them together with AND or OR.  For example, italy AND religion. (You don't need to capitalize when searching.)
• When you find information, be aware of who is doing the telling and how that might impact perspective, motivation and bias.

 Check out the tips for keywords and subject searches under the tab for Books.