Anyone worked on a reservation before?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello all! It's been a while since I posted and I doubt anyone here remembers me. I've recently encountered a new situation and immediately thought of allnurses.com and know I can get some honest answers here.

I have an opportunity to work at Chinle Hospital in Arizona but have never done any travel nursing before.

I will be leaving behind my husband, three kids, and two little dogs.

I am concerned because the agency has given me little information on what housing will be like (will I have a private room?), how I will get transportation to the hospital, and must I work seven days on and seven days off? I have gleaned a little information from a few old thread here but they have raised more questions than answers.

Also, will my family be allowed to visit from time to time? What about bring my youngest and enrolling her in a local school?

It's a 13 month contract but my husband is unemployed and this offers great money and I want to work and be immersed in another culture.

If anyone has any experiences they would like to share, I would really appreciate it. I've been waiting to hear more from the agency but my cell phone broke (wouldn't you know?) and my replacement should arrive tomorrow. I've e-mailed the agency but have not received a response yet.

They would like me to start January 2nd and I don't want to turn down a local job offer if this is going to be a horrible experience for me. But I want to experience this. I'm just in the dark about day to day details and would appreciate any tidbits anyone can throw my way.

Thank you,

Bridget

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No matter how badly you need or want a job you should not be ready to head out the door until you know all the facts. You need to get an answer to all of your questions from this company before you can even make plans, I mean, you don't even know your living arrangements or work hours.

Congratulations on finding a job opportunity in this economy, I am happy for you! Especially having a family to take care of, this should be a big stress reliever and and an exciting new experiance as well.

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i am a nurse & live and work on the rez and i can tell you right now i've seen so many people come and go it's just ridiculous. it's straight up culture shock for white people who know nothing about the culture and area. and white kids in a rez school? honestly, it's pretty rare, but if your kids are tough, they could probably handle it. just the language barrier is tough. it helps to know the language and culture. you might want to do some serious research before you head out this way. it helps to know basic phrases, and some medical terms, "where does it hurt" "what's wrong", that kind of thing. hardly any of the grandmas and grandpas even speak english and most everyone speaks a mixture of navajo and english, kind of like spanglish i guess. it's gorgeous country out here though and plenty to explore and see. we never get bored, that's for sure.

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I believe there is a whole subsection of AN about nursing on reservations/nursing with native populations...weirdly, I'm having trouble finding it now. Trying searching around AN - I was looking at that subsection a couple of months ago and it has lots of helpful threads in it.

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Ya'at'eeh,

I worked at Fort Defiance and have friends that work at Chinle. Fort Defiance has housing for travellers ( at least they use to). I loved it. I will go back one day. Chinle has housing.

It is a culture shock and I'm glad I did a lot of research before I went. I moved there with my family from south Mississippi. My daughter was homeschooled and my son wasn't school age so it worked out well. My family and ended up moving back to MS but not because we didn't like the rez. I loved it.

Ask a lot of questions. There are several post on this board related to working on a reservation. Feel free to send me a private message.

Miss my grandma's and grandpa's.

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Specializes in OB.

I worked on the Navajo Res for 9 years.

I started out in Chinle, loved the area and made some good friends there over time. It is a very different culture and you must be prepared for that. The housing will not be what you are accustomed to but is certainly livable. You will need your own transportation, not just for work but because it is a long way to anywhere from Chinle.

I really would not consider taking your child to go to school there. I had an 8 year old son when I moved there and the education system was the reason I left there and went to Shiprock after a year so that I could live off the Res and get him in a different school system.

The teachers there tried very hard but since many of the students don't learn English until starting school they tend to be somewhat behind the level of students their age from another system. There will be prejudice against Anglo kids in the school - which can be a good lesson for kids, but is not an easy one.

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I am fairly versed on Chinle and working 7on7off. Are you working a 13month or a 13week contract? I wouldnt sign up for more than 3months if you have never traveled!

Most likely you will need to drive your own vehicle and the onsite housing is typically full meaning you will have to stay at the hotel (which is why I say-13weeks a time). Also, your family can come visit but this is not the place to enroll your kids in school.

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This is all so interesting. Here I thought that things were more together on the rez these days. When I was younger I spent several summers traveling (not nurse kind) out west, including Navajo country. This was the '70s and it sounds like things are a lot the same today. You didn't want to be just driving around with family taking in the scenery and get a little lost and end up on the rez back then like we did. It's not like anyone is gonna get ya, but really there was very much that feeling of tresspass. You really had to take heed about things like having gas in your car, and doing a potty stop etc. outside the rez...

However, I have some crazy great jewlry from back then as a teen spending my last dollar on it. It's just so other-world beautiful/spiritual too, cannot describe it, it's why Navajo exist still.

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.

I would echo what netglow said. I grew up in the 4 Corners. Differences are quite distinct on the reservation, between the haves & have-nots.

If you check out the Tony Hillerman Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn mysteries from your local library, you'll get a decent feel for day-to-day life. Water is a precious commodity. Being offered 3-day old coffee is a real thing. Using an outhouse would not be uncommon. Propane is expensive, so homes may or may not be heated. Improvised wood-burning stoves in a trailer aren't uncommon. Some old-timers may still have an adobe nearby, for the winter mothths.

Alcohol is a huge problem, so watch yourself on the roads.

If you have to stay in a hotel, my preference is to jam a chair under the doorknob at night, in addition to whatever locks may or may not be in place. Not trying to scare you, and my advice would be the same in Dallas or Chicago, but you'll be a new, very distinct face in a comparatively small community. Dress plain, but not down.

Tons of people have been going to the reservations, since the late 60s, to, "immerse themselves in the culture". Most don't stay, and most leave with culture-shock, and frustration with the, "intransigent nature of the people." Be yourself, be reserved and be polite. Lots of (white)people show up with plaited hair, distressed jeans-wear, and the ability to point with their lips.:rolleyes: Don't be that guy/gal.

If the husband & kids are used to PS3, leaving the water running while brushing their teeth, complain of being bored, etc., they probably won't enjoy more than a couple of days visit- unless you go to a tourist area/the city. If you do travel, esp. this winter, keep warm emergency clothes in the car, a can of gas & some munchies. Cell phone reception may have improved, but IME, its a highly variable thing, depending on your exact location at the moment.

My perspective may be a bit different, since I can go from a dinner using all 3 forks & discussing socio-economic needs and cultural barriers, to politely sipping that 3 day old coffee cold & using the outhouse, and being able to figure out how to meet needs w/o spending money that isn't there.;)

Nice people & beautiful country.

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Hi all,

I will be a new graduate nurse next month and was wondering if the reservations hire new grad nurses? As a former military brat, I am itching to immerse myself in a new culture after being in SoCal for so long!

Also, there seems to be some apprehension (best word I could come up with) of having "white" people on the rez. How do they feel about Pacific Islanders?? Lol thanks!

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They do hire new grads, I graduated in June and just now (maybe) got hired with IHS. It takes forever!!! Now is a good time to apply tho b/c the new fiscal year just started in October. I will be living off rez, so hopefully there won't be any problems with housing. From what I have heard most NA are thankful for the service that nurses provide, but of course I do not yet have experience.:D

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Hi all,

I will be a new graduate nurse next month and was wondering if the reservations hire new grad nurses? As a former military brat, I am itching to immerse myself in a new culture after being in SoCal for so long!

Also, there seems to be some apprehension (best word I could come up with) of having "white" people on the rez. How do they feel about Pacific Islanders?? Lol thanks!

Depends on the tribe you're interested in working with. Big difference between say Cherokees of Oklahoma & Navajos out in Chinle or Lakotas in PineRidge. You're indigenous too you won't have a problem if you're a Pacific Islander..(I'm kinda joking kinda not joking) again it depends on the tribe but overall you probably fit in better then someone who was white. And that is no slur against anyone white. Were you raised traditionally? Biggest problem I see with people who don't fit in is they don't shut up long enough to learn anything. Are you Samoan, Tahitian? Now I'm being nosey :))

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