Barbara K. Charbonneau-Dahlen facts for kids

Barbara K. Charbonneau-Dahlen was a highly respected nurse and professor. She was a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. She worked hard to encourage Indigenous people to become nurses. She also supported people who faced challenges in healthcare.

Barbara earned her first degrees from the University of North Dakota (UND). She later completed a special program to become a Family Nurse Practitioner at UND. She then earned her doctorate degree from Florida Atlantic University Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. She taught nursing at Minnesota State University Mankato until she passed away.

Helping Others Through Nursing

Barbara Charbonneau-Dahlen received a special award in 2002. The American Nurses Association gave her the Research Practice Award. This was for her study called "Problems and Resources of American Indian Elders." This research helped understand the needs of older Indigenous people.

The Dream Catcher/Medicine Wheel Model

Barbara created an important model called the Dream Catcher/Medicine Wheel Model. This model helped recruit more Indigenous students into nursing. It was used in a program at the University of North Dakota. This program was called the Retention of American Indians into Nursing (RAIN) Program. It helped many students succeed in their nursing studies.