Tuba City?

suzanne4, RN · Jan 16, 2006

It is the referral/regional facility for Navajo Nation in Arizona. 45 minutes from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Snow in the winter, and you have to travel thru Flagstaff to get to Phoenix most of the time, so snow can change your plans, if you go during the winter.

They are on Colorado time, not Arizona time, so that the four states that are part of the Navajo Nation are all on the same time. Most patients that need a referral out will go by air ambiuance to Colorao.

Make sure that you take the time to go and see Monument Valley in Utah as well.

Fridays used to be market day, not sure if it still is. Navajo rugs, Kachina's sand paintings, and great Navajo Tacos.

Tuba City Truck Stop is a must for the best Navajo tacos anywhere.

Some of the doctors are up there for thier entire career, others are on three year paybacks with the government for their med school tuition.

Hope that this helps.................spent quite a bit of time working up there.

Reigen · Jan 16, 2006

:) Thank you Suzanne for all of your helpful information.

Snow isn't a problem coming from Colorado LOL! However I graduated from Prescott High School far more years ago than I want to admit, so odd weather and how to get there isn't so much of a problem.

I will be there in early Feb --the 6th is the start date, and have a vague memory of places to see and do in that area, I didn't have much on the actual town and /or the hospital. Ah yes, time zones throw me off, right now I'm in California on PST..I never know what time it is and since I work nights, not to sure what day either...:rotfl:

Again Suzanne, heartfelt thanks go out to you.

Reigen

Trishthedish · Apr 30, 2006

I've worked in Tuba on two separate occasions--1990-1992 for student loan payback, and 2002-2004. For the most part, I loved it!

I worked in OB, and probably the best part was that CNMs did most of the deliveries, and therefore, there was a calmer, more affirming atmosphere.

Some staff were new to their professions and therefore had the newest information/ideals, which was refreshing. Others had been there for years and were truly committed to the people.

I enjoyed working with both the Navajo and Hopi tribes. They are quite different in many ways.

I enjoyed that there was not a strictly-held staff hierarchy--you lived and worked with the same people day after day, called everyone by their first names, etc.

It took a long time to be accepted by the Native staff and patients. I often felt a sense that I didn't belong. I often heard Natives blaming the non-Natives for taking all the jobs away from the Natives, and Natives being frustrated with staff turnover (many, many non-Natives come for two or three years, "do their time", and leave).

I liked being a "big fish in a big pond" as opposed to the other way around.

I enjoyed learning about the cultural norms/traditions.

Please feel free to email me privately to tell me how it's going.

--Trish

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