A collage of photos can depict a facet of community health nursing practice. The Indian Health Service of the United States has utilized Community Health Nurses to provide health care to Native Americans for many years. These photos depict community health nursing among the diverse culture of the Navajo people. The pictures show the Navajo people, the land where they live and their creativity in weaving and dance. Community Health Nurses care for families on the Navajo land. Many of their homes do not have running water or electricity. The use of community wells is a common practice. Travel is often on dirt roads to reach some families so 4-wheel drive vehicles are used for transportation to make home visits. It may take many years to build nurse-patient relationships within the community. Trust is built by repeated encounters with community members. Traditions of language may be a barrier to care since some elders speak only their native language of Navajo. The assistance of skilled Navajo interpreters is essential. Community Health Nurses may be assigned as school nurses on the reservation providing health care and teaching health promotion. The treasure of the Navajo people is their children. The Navajo are descendents of an ancient people continuing the celebration of life in the traditions of weaving and dance. The Navajo survive in a land where time seems to stand still. They walk in the beauty that surrounds them.
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