IHS -- Chinle, Shiprock, &c

Specialties Travel

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Hi all,

I'm not sure which forum to post this (AZ, NM, Native American, General, OB) so I'll post here for starters.

I am interested in an assignment in one of the IHS hospitals in L&D, days/evenings, no nights. I've gotten approval from Chinle AZ through Access Nurses, which offers 8 week contracts. I've not travelled before, so I thought an 8 week contract would be good place to start, and I can extend if I want to. I am also in stage of getting approved by Anderson & Bates, which staffs federal health care facilities. They offer 13 week contracts, and I believe the pay is higher than Access. (I have no preference for either agency; I have not read negative things about either of them.)

I'm holding off on Chinle until I hear about Shiprock because I want to know if I can do 3 12 hrs/week with them, instead of 7 12's in 14 days, which is what Chinle wants. I'm starting Frontier's distance midwifery program, with online courses, and am hesitant to commit myself to working that much as I don't want my school progress hindered by work. My plan is to work a contract, study like mad on my days off in the nice solitude of the rez, save up my money, then return to the midwest to complete my coursework (then back to the IHS for clinicals, but that's another story ....)

Staffing in Chinle L&D did not sound good -- one RN in L&D (5 beds), one in nursery, one in PP. There is a CNM on as well, they also do 12 hour shifts. However, this could be a great experience to run the floor and work with the CNMs, as I've already contacted them about doing my clinicals there. Talk about learning to be an independent practitioner .... How did this work out for those of you who have worked there? I'm terrified of the days where there's more than 2 patients in labor and I'm the only nurse. Heck, 2 patients in labor and I'm the only nurse is bad enough, although the CNM may be a great help with patient monitoring and care, as far as I know. Is this the usual staffing in other IHS OB services? IE, minimal .... :) The nurse manager was very nice, but seemed surprised to hear about minimum staffing ratios of 1:2 for L&D.

What is living in Shiprock vs Chinle like? I looked online for motels in Chinle and 2 of them offer internet (which I need for school); I'm not sure about Thunderbird, although this sounds like the coolest motel of the 3. Holiday Inn has a fitness center, which is a plus. The hospital does have housing for staff, but it is generally full, so the overflow are housed in the motels. There are no cooking facilities in the rooms, unless you bring a crockpot, and there's a microwave and small refrigerator. What do you travellers do? Eat in the restaurant? What do you cook in the rooms? Do you have crockpot recipes or resources to share? :)

This could be a fabulous opportunity for me but I do want to hear more from other RNs who have worked at these hospitals before.

Just to give you a heads up - I have friends still on permanent staff at Shiprock - worked there for many years - and from what I've heard recently the OB dept. is in a mess - shortstaffed to the point of closing postpartum for days at a time, keeping only the L&D open with minimal staffing. If you were willing to put yourself in that kind of position I'm sure all the OT in the world would be available, but not sure it would be worth the risk!

Hey bagladyrn -- we've emailed from Delphi Forums. You're right about staffing in L&D at Shiprock. I do like it here but they have 3 - 4 RNs (1 for PP, 1 for nursery, 1 for L&D, 1 charge, who winds up in L&D most times) and when the pregnant lady bus lets off, like it has since I've been here, it's dicey. They've put me in PP mostly so I've been spared the worst. For now. I do not know if they try to get more RNs and can't, or if they have a mandate to run the place with only 4 RNs maximum. I will say, the staff pull together and work well together to get through it all.

If census is low they will put the PP pts in L&D -- esp when there are only 3 RNs. Today we had one PP pt and L&D had one triage pt all day (thank the goddess as I was in L&D and it could have been like last week, with all the rooms full and pts in the waiting room.)

So, does Shiprock have tele, m/s icu? I do not do PP or L&D.... I do not mind taking care of the mums for a bit, after the birthing... and that is about it.

Any idea of rates? Does anyone know if OA Staffs there?

Specializes in OB.
Hey bagladyrn -- we've emailed from Delphi Forums. You're right about staffing in L&D at Shiprock. I do like it here but they have 3 - 4 RNs (1 for PP, 1 for nursery, 1 for L&D, 1 charge, who winds up in L&D most times) and when the pregnant lady bus lets off, like it has since I've been here, it's dicey. They've put me in PP mostly so I've been spared the worst. For now. I do not know if they try to get more RNs and can't, or if they have a mandate to run the place with only 4 RNs maximum. I will say, the staff pull together and work well together to get through it all.

If census is low they will put the PP pts in L&D -- esp when there are only 3 RNs. Today we had one PP pt and L&D had one triage pt all day (thank the goddess as I was in L&D and it could have been like last week, with all the rooms full and pts in the waiting room.)

I was there for 9 years before I was a traveler (and before they built the new hospital as well) and know what it can be like - feast or famine for both pt. and staffing. Just wouldn't want anyone to walk into it without knowing what it can be like. It is a whole different world isn't it?

I may get over there some time soon to catch up with old friends - maybe we can meet in person!

So, does Shiprock have tele, m/s icu? I do not do PP or L&D.... I do not mind taking care of the mums for a bit, after the birthing... and that is about it.

Any idea of rates? Does anyone know if OA Staffs there?

Shiprock does have an ICU, and a med/surg unit, a peds, an ER, a NICU, postpartum, and OB. Note I said "a" med/surg unit ... there is one. The NICU is the "nursery" for L&D -- they staff it with a NICU trained nurse and they attend births, watch after and chart on the well babies on PP, as well as any NICU babies, although those are generally occassional level II babies, ie needing extra O2, or not feeding well, or IVF, antibiotics. They are so short now they have one of their med/surg nurses floating on noc shift (it's fairly easy to teach a m/s RN how to do PP than to do L&D.

This is a very nice newer hospital (built in 1990s?) so I have no idea what the old one was like.

I'm paid 34/hr, 20 of that is nontaxed, by ABSS. I still don't understand why it's not taxed. Plus housing, utilities, cable, internet, insurance, all paid by ABSS.

Check it out. It'd be fun to meet a few RNs from allnurses.

Specializes in Pediatric.

Selke, I know it's been a while, did you enjoy your assignment at Shiprock, NM? I am checking AB Staffing site, of course it sounds really good. Were they a good company to work for? Thanks.

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