American-Indian Students United in Nursing (ASUN) was established at the ASU College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation in the Fall of 1990 through a section 112 grant from Indian Health Service (IHS). The grant provides scholarships for students in the Professional Nursing Program (BSN Program). Every five years, ASUN is required to submit a competitive grant to continue the program. Although the competition has been intense at times, we have been successful every time we have applied. Our current award extends the ASUN program until 2008.
American Indian Health Background
Healthcare for American Indians is based on treaties (contracts) between the Federal government and tribes in which land and natural resources have been exchanged for social services that include housing, education, and healthcare. The healthcare system created by these treaties is unique because, although healthcare is not a right for most people in the United States, it is for American Indians.
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is the primary Federal agency responsible for delivering healthcare services to the American Indian population. IHS is severely underfunded, and American Indians have among the worst health disparities in the country. Also, due to underfunding, IHS has a significant health professional shortage, including nurses.
