Good idea!

i just wanted to let you know i am in support of this forum as well...it's always a great experience learning about new cultures! before this forum come into being, i was doing a lot of reading about indian health services, and the nurse practicioner that go and work with native american people. now, i am just doing my pre-requisets...and no where near ready to become an np, but this was just so inspiring to me! so here comes my question(s)...

what advice would you have to people (nurses, nps, students, etc) who want to work with the native americna population? to remember that you are a guest on their land and to respect their ways...even if you don't understand them. be mindful of the history of oppression and that trust will take time. learn the social nuances and customs of the area that you are in. is it possible to work on the reservation? yes. one way is via travel nursing. i have yet to come acrossed an answer to that in any of my research, and am unsure of how native american's would take to a perosn who wasn't native american working/(living?) on their reservation. be mindful that others have traveled there to work before you...this can be a positive or not so positive thing. positive if there were good experiences laid down by others. not so positive if those experiences were viewed as less than caring. be open to new ideas of relating. for, example, in the non nai culture, it is often felt that long pauses in conversation relay disinterest. in the many nai cultures, long pauses are viewed as respectful, allowing the listener to think about what has been discussed before formulating a reply. also, interrupting a nai speaker is often seen as rude and disrespectful...especially to elders. in the non nai culture, we are trained to look the person in the eye while communicating. in many nai cultures, avoiding eye contact is often seen as more respectful. sustained eye contact is challenging and less respectful. this also applies to hand shakes. firm hand shakes may be seen as controlling and disrespectful...where a more lighter shake may be viewed as more friendly and respectful. a soft tone of voice is also often seen as being more respectful, whereas a loud tone is not. be mindful of a nai objects that they may bring or have on them. do not touch these items or discuss them unless invited to do so. if you do, you are being disrespectful...many nais do not take this lightly. i inform folks that the best way to treat a nais objects is to view the object as a person...be respectful.

i qouted nemhain's post to because of the specific health issues raised that confront native american people--diabetes and gall bladder problems. is there a reason problems like that are so common among native americans? much has to do with lifestyle, genetics, poverty, lack of access, and culture. what other health problems would commonly be seen amongst this population?

i have one thread on the top ten ( https://allnurses.com/forums/f239/ten-leading-causes-death-u-s-2002-american-indians-alaska-natives-146546.html) but i have also posted several threads here that touch on them a little more.

i hope this helps answer your question some.

It does! Thank you very much! :)

What kind food do Native American people eat? Is there traditional foods, etc that are unique to the culture? :)

My school is getting a contract with the Indian Health Services so I can do my FNP clinicals with them. Anyone else work with them?

Hey zenman...I'd be interested to here about your experiences doing clincals w/ them. Not that I'm going to graduate school any time soon, but just to know what options are out there. Where are you going to school at?

Groovy...why's your location say all over Asia then? I wouldn't mind going to Asia...

My school is getting a contract with the Indian Health Services so I can do my FNP clinicals with them. Anyone else work with them?

zenman, could you do a few postings on what it is like working in the NAI Health Services? This way it will help others to see what it is like.

My thanks, Native

Are you doing distance learning from Asia? Or do you start school, as well as, clinicals in the fall...I'm confused. Either way, are you working as a nurse in Asia? That's cool.

Sweet! Now I understand. :)

I work in Anchorage at the Alaska Native Hospital, which is a Magnet hospital and is dedicated to serving Alaska Natives and those registered to tribes. Their mission is that Alaska Natives are the healthiest in the world, and they have unique services set up to provide that. There is a long ways to go, but it's a great start. Clinics are in the hospital, there is a hospitality house for patients and an escort to stay post-discharge and pre-follow up before they return to the villages, there is a travel office to help get patients and their families back and forth to home. It is a teaching hospital for medical students, residents and nursing students, and has Health Service employees as well. I am a direct hire, but do enjoy the hospital and the population very much. I am also a Heinz 57 Caucasian- part of my family came from Eurpoe in the 1700s, and the other part came in the 1900s, and have had virtually no issue being white caring for a Native population. It's attitude and respect is critical.