Nursing grad hopes to drive change for Indigenous patients

A Cree student who graduated from the University of Manitoba nursing program said she’s striving to make the health-care system a more welcoming place for Indigenous patients.

Kaydence Morgado Thomas, who was raised in Winnipeg and has ties to Norway House Cree Nation, officially graduated from the UM Pathways to Indigenous Nursing Education program earlier this month.

She is set to begin work at Health Sciences Centre next month and will pick up shifts at Percy E Moore Hospital in Hodgson, whose patients also come from Peguis First Nation and Fisher River Cree Nation.

“I want to create an environment where patients feel respected and valued,” said Morgado Thomas.

She said she decided to become a nurse while working for child and family services after she graduated from high school, where she’d look after children and provide support to families.

Morgado Thomas said some health-care workers may forget about cultural healing practices such as smudging, traditional medicine and access to elders that could aid in patient recovery.

She said she believes more needs to be done to teach nurses about traditional Indigenous healing practices and the impact of colonization.

Morgado Thomas said she hopes to make a difference by educating other nurses and connecting with patients through shared experiences and cultural healing practices. She also said more Indigenous health-care workers are needed.

“I think representation in health care is important, so Indigenous people have someone who recognizes their cultural background,” said Morgado Thomas.

Statistics Canada data from 2024 found 14.4 per cent of Manitoba health-care workers identified as Indigenous.

Morgado Thomas said more programs like the one she took at UM would help Indigenous youth get into health care.

“I wouldn’t be here without the PINE program,” she said.

“I think representation in health care is important, so Indigenous people have someone who recognizes their cultural background.”

She said she also received financial support from Norway House that paid for her tuition. Even with the extra help, she still faced challenges throughout her four-year journey in nursing school.

Morgado Thomas said people in her family struggle with addictions and her uncle died of an overdose before she started her studies.

“Going into school after that experience was very challenging, but it also strengthened my perspective. It strengthened my motivation to pursue health care and better understand and support people and families affected by addiction.”

Morgado Thomas said finishing the nursing program is a step forward in learning and healing from her family’s trauma to set a better example for future generations.

tiago.resko@freepress.mb.ca