A Caring-Based Approach to Design and Implement a Pilot Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Native American and Indigenous Health.

Nurses comprise nearly 60% of the global health workforce and are uniquely equipped to promote health and healing among Native American and Indigenous communities through culturally grounded, community-centered approaches. Rooted in holistic worldviews and relational ethics, nursing practice and research align with Indigenous values, particularly when guided by models, such as Kristen Swanson's Theory of Caring. The first process of "knowing" emphasizes understanding the lived experiences of those served, an essential orientation in addressing the historical trauma and structural inequities that shape Indigenous health outcomes. Community-based participatory research reflects this ethic, fostering cocreated knowledge that honors tribal sovereignty and community voice. Nontraditional postdoctoral fellowships, such as the Indigenous Nursing Research Enhancement Program at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, exemplify a shift toward place-based, reciprocal models of scholarship that center cultural safety, relational accountability, and sustained engagement. These programs challenge conventional academic paradigms by embedding fellows within Indigenous communities and prioritizing cultural immersion, elder guidance, and land-based learning. Through interdisciplinary, culturally responsive research, and partnerships, nurse scholars are advancing health equity while embodying a decolonized ethic of presence, care, and mutual respect.