Working as an LPN on Reservations

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Hey,

I was just wondering if anyone had worked on any of the Indian Reservations and what your experience was like? Can an LPN work on a Reservation or is this strictly an RN job only? Just curious, as this is something I would really like to do some day. Please, feel free to share your experiences, advice, suggestions..etc.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

I haven't worked on the reservation but they do use travel lpns's the offer I got didn't include housing or travel to and from the assignment. They only offered 900/WK take home after taxes. Which isn't enough and I have to pay yo get there. Also when the arise the position goes quickly

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Specializes in CCM, PHN.

Why do you want to do this so badly?

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Just have a strong pull in that direction. Not quite sure why. I do have a great deal of respect and fondness for Native American culture. I have done quite a bit of research about N.A. in my own area and the also the Dine people around Arizona, which is where I would hopefully be working. Why do you ask?

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That's awesome! I live in Oklahoma, there's tribal land all around us. I used to live in Shawnee and the Shawnee tribe was incredible to learn about. It's awesome that you feel pulled towards it.. They have bad reputations for being drunks and gamblers but um, where I'm from, that's no different than any other redneck around here. Lol. Working for the tribes (even if its not in medical, like at casinos etc) they really do take care of you. Great people to work with. Do your thing girl! ;)

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Specializes in CCM, PHN.
Just have a strong pull in that direction. Not quite sure why. I do have a great deal of respect and fondness for Native American culture. I have done quite a bit of research about N.A. in my own area and the also the Dine people around Arizona which is where I would hopefully be working. Why do you ask?[/quote']

Because I'm Native, and a nurse, and a nurse who had worked in the Native population. Look back on some of my posts to get a feel for my take on things.

Don't mistake "respect" and "fondness" for "pity" or "I think they're exotic/fun anthropology projects/museum pieces to be fascinated by";

Native people are pretty distrustful of non-Native healthcare practitioners in general - and your real intentions will be revealed quickly, no matter what they are;

IHS pay usually isn't worth the work;

Reservation politics are usually backwards and unethical, rife with nepotism & corruption, no matter what the economic & educational climate;

You will work with the most stubbornly non-compliant population you will ever know.

Please choose a specialty according to the patient populations' needs, not your OWN "pull." Explore and reflect on your feelings about Native people. If you over-revere us, exoticize us, pity us, expect us to be stoic mystics or drunks, or go into this with a sense of serving your own "fascination" or "pull," your Native patients will KNOW this and it will be difficult, if not impossible, to win their trust. Believe me. I've seen pious, well-intentioned non-Natives who are OH SO TAKEN with us earth loving, spiritual peoples, come to a Native agency or rez and leave very quickly.

Please, do some self reflection on this and feel free to PM me with any questions.

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