Wondering about IHS...

[cheyne stokes]

Hello everyone. It's been awhile since the last post here but I thought I'd give it a try.

I am about to begin my nursing degree program, and I think a lot about how I am going to best be able to serve the Indian community as a nurse. Working for IHS is appealing to me because of their loan forgiveness program. So I was wondering if anyone out there has experience with either this program or working for IHS in general.

By the way, I am an enrolled member of a tribe, and I was raised on our tribal nation lands in Oklahoma until I went away for high school. Growing up I saw first hand the inequalities that exist for Native Americans, especially in health care. While this fact used to just infuriate me, it also motivated me to find a way to do something about it and I think I am finally approaching a place where I can be a source of positivity.

[EnergizerNurse]

Hello everyone. It's been awhile since the last post here but I thought I'd give it a try.

I am about to begin my nursing degree program, and I think a lot about how I am going to best be able to serve the Indian community as a nurse. Working for IHS is appealing to me because of their loan forgiveness program. So I was wondering if anyone out there has experience with either this program or working for IHS in general.

By the way, I am an enrolled member of a tribe, and I was raised on our tribal nation lands in Oklahoma until I went away for high school. Growing up I saw first hand the inequalities that exist for Native Americans, especially in health care. While this fact used to just infuriate me, it also motivated me to find a way to do something about it and I think I am finally approaching a place where I can be a source of positivity.

I think it's great that you're interested in working for the IHS. While I have not worked for the IHS, there was a speaker who came to my school and talked about her experiences working on a reservation in New Mexico for two years. She worked as a labor and delivery nurse -- and loved it! The medical and nursing staff were helpful and warm. Then, she went to New York City and worked in a public urban hospital, and quickly became burnt out. She later went on to graduate school, and is now working as a certified nurse midwife. She still looks back at her New Mexico days fondly.

Maybe if you chat with an IHS recruiter they can put you in touch with a IHS clinical nurse.

[dreamer44az]

working for ihs does have its advantages. most of the people here in tuba city, on the navajo nation are very good at their jobs. but there is something they dont tell you when you come on a rezervation to work. you have hardly any rights. even passing through a rezervation, they can get away with things that would never go if off of the rez. unless you have big money for a lawyer to sue, it will never be handled. here is some info, please pass it on.

most of the people at the hospital are just wonderful. but things are getting very bad in the admin part of the hospital. ceo, at this time, contract not renewed. head of housing and security let go for some "un-ethical" things. vist this website for information on what they have done to others, and are doing to us. they should really stress this fact to people planning or thinking about coming to work here. if you are non native, you practicly have no rights on the rezervation.

http://tubacitynursing.viviti.com/ . it is not trashing the hospital, nor any one person. just some facts on what you might run into here.