TUBA CITY, AZ HOSPITAL--need info/advice!!

U.S.A. Arizona

Published

Any nurses familiar with the hospital in Tuba City, AZ? Any personal work experience there or just hearsay? Is it a good hospital? A good place to work? How's management? Wages (I've got just over 9 years experience)? I understand this is on a reservation. Do the natives treat non-natives okay? I work with a lot of native Americans from a nearby reservation in north-central SD & there's quite a few that don't care much for white people & are often very rude, disrespectful and confrontational. I work in a skilled nursing facility on an advanced Alzheimer's/dementia unit. Unfortunately, it's not just on my unit where this behavior occurs. It's in the general public as well. Anyway, to me, race is irrelevant. I'm asking all this because I'm an RN & my husband and I have been looking at relocating to northern AZ. I was looking for a job with relocation assistance. Came across an ad for the hospital in Tuba City that is offering some sweet perks (relocation assistance, sign-on bonus, student loan repayment, an apartment, free health insurance)...but there's usually a reason for things lIke that so I'm a little nervous about applying! Really tempting though!! We'd likely live in Flagstaff so my husband could get a good job & we'd have a better chance of finding a quality daycare & nice housing. I'd ask to work my 3 12-hr shifts in a row so I could stay in TC those days then go home to my hubby & child. Any thoughts/opinions/suggestions, etc would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks in advance! :)

Shannon

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No direct experience in that hospital. I am more familiar with Phoenix Indian Hospital - which sucks. A lot. Challenging population (all that you mention above) with a horrible bureacracy layered into that milieu. Also, they are offering extensive relocation assistance for a reason. Tuba City is way out on the reservation - there is not much there. And the population you describe well above. Good friend of mine lasted one year as a teacher in Tuba City. I have been there many times. I would sooner pay for my own relocation and go straight to Flagstaff. Follow your gut - seems like you already know the answer to your question.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Step-down and ICU.

I currently work at Tuba City Hospital and started Nov 2015. I also came through a recruitment agency who promised the same perks for coming here. I work in ICU and have worked as a travel nurse. The health insurance is NOT free. You pay for insurance but it is less than I have paid anywhere else I have worked. If you use the hospital for medical services there is no co-pay even for meds. If you use another facility you pay the co-pays. The tuition reimbursement AKA Loan forgiveness is a sham. You must apply through IHS.gov and when funding is available you will get student loans paid $20,000 a year but you must sign on for 2yrs contract in addition to the 2yrs you sign on to get here. I live in an apt provided with my husband and we have no kids. I do pay rent and it is taken out of my biweekly paycheck. I pay $650 a month for a 2bedroom apt plus I pay for electricity not for water or garbage. Some apts have to pay for propane. I do feel pretty safe here. Security drives around day and night along the housing and hospital campus as well. They are available 24/7. Navajo Police can not respond to your calls. I have not had any problems with the Natives and work along side many. Most people in the community are used to us hospital employees being here. It is a 90min drive to Flagstaff. We also just got a DOllar General last week which is HUGE in this town with nothing but a few gas stations a few fast food restaurants( Taco Bell, McDs, KFC and a Dennys) Some Nurses do exactley as you are planning on doing, that shouldn't be a problem except housing is expensive and difficult to find in Flagstaff, it is a college town. If you want more info please PM me.

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Did you accept the position? I'm a long term IHS employee and you can let me know if you have questions.

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Did you still work in there?

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I got a few questions

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I got a few questions

I still work for Indian Health Service. What questions do you have? I love IHS but Tuba City is "638" and run by the tribe so the perks aren't as good. If you want a federal job, go to Chinle. Let me know if I can help you.

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I currently work at Tuba City Hospital and started Nov 2015. I also came through a recruitment agency who promised the same perks for coming here. I work in ICU and have worked as a travel nurse. The health insurance is NOT free. You pay for insurance but it is less than I have paid anywhere else I have worked. If you use the hospital for medical services there is no co-pay even for meds. If you use another facility you pay the co-pays. The tuition reimbursement AKA Loan forgiveness is a sham. You must apply through IHS.gov and when funding is available you will get student loans paid $20,000 a year but you must sign on for 2yrs contract in addition to the 2yrs you sign on to get here. I live in an apt provided with my husband and we have no kids. I do pay rent and it is taken out of my biweekly paycheck. I pay $650 a month for a 2bedroom apt plus I pay for electricity not for water or garbage. Some apts have to pay for propane. I do feel pretty safe here. Security drives around day and night along the housing and hospital campus as well. They are available 24/7. Navajo Police can not respond to your calls. I have not had any problems with the Natives and work along side many. Most people in the community are used to us hospital employees being here. It is a 90min drive to Flagstaff. We also just got a DOllar General last week which is HUGE in this town with nothing but a few gas stations a few fast food restaurants( Taco Bell, McDs, KFC and a Dennys) Some Nurses do exactley as you are planning on doing, that shouldn't be a problem except housing is expensive and difficult to find in Flagstaff, it is a college town. If you want more info please PM me.

I hope you are declaring your rent and utilities on your federal taxes as it is forced housing.

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What about Fort Defiance?

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What about Fort Defiance?

Fort Defiance is also 638. Are you wanting to go federal? Hopi, Chinle, Kayenta would be some of the federal facilities in northern AZ. Phoenix Indian.Medical Center is federal as is Gallup, NM.

There is also a VA clinic in Flagstaff.

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Yes I want to go Federal. What is the difference from a 638 to at not 638?

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Yes I want to go Federal. What is the difference from a 638 to at not 638?

638 facilities are not federal and so you won't receive federal benefits.

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