Sonia TePani Hawkins (Te Arawa: Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Tainui: Ngaati Mahanga, Ngaati Tipa). MHSc (1st class honours), University of Auckland.


Sonia is a Waiariki Polytechnic trained Registered Comprehensive Nurse. She has a long-track record of working across the health sector including clinical leadership within a kaupapa Māori Provider, Child Health, Diabetes, Māori Health Research & Primary Health Care. She was also the Associate Director of Nursing (PHC/Community) at Lakes District Health Board. Sonia works part-time as an advisor within the Strategic Partnerships and Māori Success directorate at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Rotorua. She is also an independent health service auditor, and provides supervision for Māori Health provider employed nurses and kaiawhina.

Abstract:
The aim of the study was to identify senior nurses’ understanding of health equity and to explore how health equity is embedded into nursing practice, in order to contribute to equitable nursing practice that leads to improved health outcomes for Māori.
A kaupapa Māori research methodology was applied to this research. Eight senior nurses and one nurse practitioner from across Aotearoa-New Zealand participated in the study. Qualitative interviews were conducted.
Four themes were identified, and are each presented under a whakatauaki (proverb). The factors identified by participants as impinging on health equity include; (1) racism, implicit bias, privilege, and cultural safety, (2) the health system and its drivers, (3) the environment and context nurses work within and, (4) the tools they access to enable health equity to be embedded into practice.
Health inequities are long-standing in Aotearoa-New Zealand, and working towards achieving health equity is of national importance. While we recognise that health equity is paramount, findings from this study demonstrate there are a number of complexities that nursing and the health sector must address. At present, this study identified nursing is not fully equipped to rise up against the significant challenge of improving health inequity.

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