Outcomes of training nurses to conduct breast and cervical cancer screening of Native American women

Native WEB (Women Enjoying the Benefit) is a unique training program for nurses employed by the Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal clinics, and other clinics with large, underserved populations. It teaches nurses breast and cervix cancer screening techniques and trains them to administer and maintain high-quality screening programs that include patient outreach, education, and training. We review American Indian (AI)/Alaska Native (AN) women's need for screening services, identify some of the obstacles to screening, and present our evaluation of the Native WEB's impact on clinics, nurses, and patients. Findings show that Native WEB training is associated with increased screening activity at all three levels.