Donna Grandbois, associate professor of nursing, is one of the authors of "American Indian Health and Nursing," the first nursing textbook focusing on American Indian health.

Grandbois, who wrote a chapter on American Indians who live in the Northern Great Plains, is one of 12 contributing authors for the book, most of whom have American Indian ancestry. The lead author is Margaret Moss, assistant dean for diversity and inclusion at the University of Buffalo, New York.

The textbook addresses American Indian history, current American Indian issues and disparities in Native health and health care.

"The top causes of death for Native people were heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, diabetes and stroke," Grandbois said. "All are amenable to prevention, treatment and recovery with a change of heart and proper guidance to make lifestyle changes and have equitable access to the resources necessary to live healthy, holistic lives. Perhaps the time has come to include indigenous people in the dialogue if we are really going to end health disparities."

Grandbois is an enrolled member of North Dakota's Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribe. She earned her bachelor's and master's degree in psychiatric nursing from the University of North Dakota. She earned her doctorate in gerontology from NDSU. She holds a dual faculty position, teaching in the School of Nursing and in the American Indian Specialization in the Department of Public Health, where she teaches graduate courses in American Indian cultural competence and health disparities.

The textbook is scheduled to be published this month by the Springer Publishing Co.

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