Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Nursing Flashcards

A Māori patient uses rongoā Māori (traditional Māori medicine). How should a nurse respond to this disclosure?

Answer: Acknowledge and respect the practice, explore potential interactions with prescribed medicines, and document without judgement

Rongoā Māori is a legitimate health practice. Nurses should acknowledge and respect it (cultural safety), explore potential interactions (clinical safety), and document it accurately. Dismissing rongoā undermines cultural safety and may damage the therapeutic relationship.

Under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, what role does Te Aka Whai Ora play in nursing practice?

Answer: It commissions kaupapa Māori health services and sets priorities for Māori health — nurses should be aware of local Māori health strategies and engage with these services

Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority) commissions and monitors kaupapa Māori health services, setting Māori health priorities. Nurses benefit from understanding its role to facilitate referrals to Māori health providers and align care with Māori health strategies.

What does 'manaakitanga' mean and how does it apply to nursing?

Answer: Hospitality, generosity, and care for others — in nursing it means treating patients with dignity, warmth, and genuine respect for their wellbeing

Manaakitanga (showing respect, generosity, and care) is a core Māori value that aligns closely with the nursing ethos of caring. In practice, it means going beyond task completion to show genuine warmth, respect for mana (dignity), and attention to the whole person.

A nurse is aware that Māori patients in their ward are consistently discharged earlier than non-Māori patients with similar conditions. What should the nurse do?

Answer: Document the pattern, raise it with the charge nurse and clinical governance, and contribute to a quality improvement review

Disparate discharge patterns may reflect systemic bias. Nurses have a professional and Te Tiriti obligation to identify and raise concerns about potential inequity. Raising systemic patterns through clinical governance is an appropriate professional response.

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'hauora' in Māori health?

Answer: Holistic wellbeing encompassing physical, mental, spiritual, and family health — not just the absence of disease

Hauora is the Māori concept of holistic wellbeing, encompassing taha tinana (physical), taha hinengaro (mental), taha wairua (spiritual), and taha whānau (family) dimensions. It underpins Te Whare Tapa Whā and reflects a holistic view of health beyond biomedical models.

How should a nurse address a Māori elder in a clinical setting to demonstrate cultural respect?

Answer: Ask the patient how they prefer to be addressed — use their preferred name or title, and not assume informality

Cultural safety requires asking each patient their preferred form of address. Assuming informality can be disrespectful to elders, while applying generic Māori titles to all patients may feel patronising. Asking directly shows respect for individual and cultural preferences.