Indian Reservation Nursing Community Health

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Hello,

This is my first post to any site ever on the web so I hope I get this right!! I appreciate any responses. Any one out there with experience working for the IHS on a Reservation? I am looking at community health positions and am familiar with what it is like to live in the middle of know where. We have a place in NM that is 30 miles off the paved road and off the grid.

I would like to hear from anyone who has done this kind of nursing, what to expect, highs and lows, rewards, struggles etc. I believe I am culturally diverse, but I have never submersed myself in another culture.

Also, tips on how to GET hired with the IHS, what I need to send with my formal form papers and what I don't. And, any word on advancement.

I have been in management for the last 7 years, much of it in ambulatory care and occupational health and the last two years have been outside the medical setting.

Thanks, again for responding to my first Post. (I hope this works).

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Hi!

I am not sure if I can help or not. I have worked for IHS on the Navajo reservation as a travel nurse. I know that they have a web site. I believe that it is http://www.IHS.gov. It was a wonderful experience for me, and I am not real experienced with other cultures! I learned a lot, however, and the staff at the hospital were all very helpful. Good Luck!

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I never nursed on the rez but I grew UP on the rez and I can tell you that if you are respectful and don't place yourself above anyone then you will get along with the "natives" just fine.

The Rez is like a different country. No matter what you learn before you get there you won't be fully prepared. Indians (for example) will rarely look you in the eye. It's a sign of disrespect to do so. There are lots of other things like that. Don't worry though, You will do fine.

-Russell

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Specializes in ICU.

I con't help you with the indian reservation problem specifically but after talking with our Canadian colleagues it seems that the health issues of indigenous people are very similar world wide. My suggestions would be to widen your scope of research a little. Google ATSIC for health issues affecting Australian Aborigines also the Australasian forum has the Australian rural nursing website listed which may help.

memo to self - get off duff and get that rural nurses website sticky organised:chuckle - ok one day I will

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I was just looking in the help wanted section of the newspaper the other day and there was an ad for a nurse to setup and run a drug abuse program at one of the rezs. They didin't specify you needed to be Indian, but stated they had preference of course. I also recall when in school, they were looking for someone of native indian descent to give a rather large scholarship to and no one qualified.

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Thanks for the replies. I'm still not sure if I'm doing this right. I hope this posts to respond to my question. Guess I will have to push the button to see cause I can't figure out any of these directions.

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