Shiprock Hospital, anesthesia

U.S.A. New Mexico

Published

Hello,

I am a student nurse anesthetist, currently attending Georgetown University. One of our optional out rotations is at Shiprock Indian hospital in Shiprock NM.

I am going to be spending the month of July there. (I know, yuck the dead of the summer, but I am familiar with what I am getting into, I am from Albuquerque, and only recently moved to the East coast).

I am writing to see if I can get in touch with anyone who has worked, or is currently working in this facility. I am curious about the area, and the hospital. I will be providing anesthesia there on the weekdays during the entire month, and visiting family on the weekends. Rusty, I will be in Santa Fe, want to get a beer?

Anyway, any information is appreciated, and thanks for your time.

Craig

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I've spent a night in shiprock and what I remember is this: It was beautiful! The shiprock that the town is named for is this huge red chunk of rock that looks kind of like a ship if you look at it the right way plopped down in the desert. I also recall the town as being very friendly, in the middle of nowhere, with a decently sized native american population. It was hot, luckily it is a very dry heat.

I'm sorry I have zero medical knowledge of the place to offer you.

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Brush up on Navaho ways and language....Buy all silver and turquoise while your there...See Mesa Verde ...maybe Chaco Canyon too...Have a great time! Eats lots of green chili and drink Blue Margaritas....water when in the sun tho'....take lots of sunscreen, the sun can be a killer up that high....don't forget White Sands! Send me chili!!!:) :)

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I drove through Shiprock this weekend on my return home to Colorado. It is a beautiful area. The hospital is gorgeous and squeeky new. The employee parking lot of the new hospital was loaded with cars that were licensed in many different states. The JACHO accredidation is in early May so you will miss that (whew).

Would you believe there were NO openings for nurses there??? yikes! never saw that before but I am sure they are ultrastaffed for accredidation.

YOu will get some great photos; I am sure you are well aware of the beautiful sunsets NM has to offer. Mexican Hat, in the SE corner of Utah, is only about a 2-3 hour drive.

night

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Rusty, I will be in Santa Fe, want to get a beer?

Craig

I'll buy the first round.

-Russell

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical/Maternal and Child.
I drove through Shiprock this weekend on my return home to Colorado. It is a beautiful area. The hospital is gorgeous and squeeky new. The employee parking lot of the new hospital was loaded with cars that were licensed in many different states. The JACHO accredidation is in early May so you will miss that (whew).

Would you believe there were NO openings for nurses there??? yikes! never saw that before but I am sure they are ultrastaffed for accredidation.

YOu will get some great photos; I am sure you are well aware of the beautiful sunsets NM has to offer. Mexican Hat, in the SE corner of Utah, is only about a 2-3 hour drive.

night

Shiprock Hospital is a US Public Health Hospital with Indian Health Services so you need to fill out a Federal Application with Indian Health Services and you need to get on the an eligiblity list. Look up on their website and contact their nurse recruiter. I worked at USPHS Gallup Indian Medical Center and I loved working with the Native Americans. Plus sometimes Indian Health Services provides housing for their nurses. That whole area is so gorgeous. If you want to buy Native American Jewelry, pottery and rugs, avoid the trading posts. They charge outlandish prices for their goods and hardly pay the Native artisans for their work. At Gallup Indian Medical Center, the artisans go to the cafeteria every pay day to sell their lovely wares. ENJOY!!

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Northern Navajo is a great hospital--pretty new, most of the doctors are fresh out of school (the government pays their loans if they agree to work there), and its an interesting atmosphere. I'm glad you're from here, people that move to this area for the "culture" often have difficulties.

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Northern Navajo is a great hospital--pretty new, most of the doctors are fresh out of school (the government pays their loans if they agree to work there), and its an interesting atmosphere. I'm glad you're from here, people that move to this area for the "culture" often have difficulties.

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical/Maternal and Child.
Northern Navajo is a great hospital--pretty new, most of the doctors are fresh out of school (the government pays their loans if they agree to work there), and its an interesting atmosphere. I'm glad you're from here, people that move to this area for the "culture" often have difficulties.

I don't live in New Mexico or Arizona. But I did work at USPHS Gallup Indian Medical Center as an agency nurse and loved working with the Indians. I had no difficulties whatsoever with them. Maybe it's because I'm 1/4 Indian on my mother's side. I really enjoyed working with them. They're people just like you and me!!!

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical/Maternal and Child.
Northern Navajo is a great hospital--pretty new, most of the doctors are fresh out of school (the government pays their loans if they agree to work there), and its an interesting atmosphere. I'm glad you're from here, people that move to this area for the "culture" often have difficulties.

I don't live in New Mexico or Arizona. But I did work at USPHS Gallup Indian Medical Center as an agency nurse and loved working with the Indians. I had no difficulties whatsoever with them. Maybe it's because I'm 1/4 Indian on my mother's side. I really enjoyed working with them. They're people just like you and me!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Shiprock Hospital is a US Public Health Hospital with Indian Health Services so you need to fill out a Federal Application with Indian Health Services and you need to get on the an eligiblity list. Look up on their website and contact their nurse recruiter. I worked at USPHS Gallup Indian Medical Center and I loved working with the Native Americans. Plus sometimes Indian Health Services provides housing for their nurses. That whole area is so gorgeous. If you want to buy Native American Jewelry, pottery and rugs, avoid the trading posts. They charge outlandish prices for their goods and hardly pay the Native artisans for their work. At Gallup Indian Medical Center, the artisans go to the cafeteria every pay day to sell their lovely wares. ENJOY!!

Just wanted to say that I spent 2 months in Shiprock at NNMC and it was one of the best life experiences I've ever had! EVERYONE (docs, nurses, housekeepers, administrators, patients, families) were wonderful to me. The nurses I worked with were EXCELLENT!!! I wish I could take them back home to work with me! I am the "mother of natives" *(Father of my kids is Native American) and that seemed important to a lot of the staff and the families. In addition the scenery is breathtaking. Prices aren't out of reach in the big scheme of things... I concluded that people were there because they wanted to be there... I loved caring for the Navajos and learning about their culture. I would feel honored if I was to work there.

I got some good deals on rugs and jewelry because some of the artists came to the hospital to sell their crafts. I'm hoping my school sends a student again this year... :wink2:

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I can't speak to the OP's exact topic but am going to Shiprock in Sept. for my first travel assignment in L&D and am excited about it. It's a shorter term assignment while I start my distance program (CNM) so I'll see how the whole thing goes, then may renew after a few week break, and continue doing this (hmm, alternate with gorgeous desert, nice patients and coworkers, and So CA beach and sun -- what an education!!! beats the northeast!!!) until I finish the coursework part of my program. (I know I won't be working after graduation in such exotic places so this is my chance!) I am likely to have clinicals with IHS too. I'm all ears for survival tactics, shopping, travel, day trips, road trips, &c. Do travellers socialize? Hang out together? It seems most of IHS staffing is with travellers, with lots of students thrown in. Could be fun!!!!

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