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Clinical Journal Reflection

Michelle McDaniel

Herzing University

Nu675

LaTanya Battle-Wherry

September 24, 2023

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Clinical Journal Reflection

Olson, in 2006, reported that Native Americans experience the highest rate of suicide of

all ethnic groups in the United States. I have a contract doing a travel assignment in a Federal

facility on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the Acute Care Unit that will finish in a few days. The

small facility consists of 12 ER bays and 2 “trauma” bays, and they will receive any psychiatric

patient with suicidal and homicidal ideations, put them in a 1:1, and transfer them to a

psychiatric facility when a bed is available, which could take days. Yesterday, I was looking for

possible admission to the Acute Care Unit, and I noticed that five patients came in with suicidal

ideation; one stabbed himself at home in his abdomen. Six other patients were medically

admitted for alcohol intoxication to Acute Care later. I was looking online for a support group in

Pine Ridge or the Oglala Sioux Tribe area because distance and a lack of public transportation

are the main struggles for medical issues and behavioral health.

Interestingly, on the reservation, alcohol is illegal, and public intoxication is unlawful,

but this legislation is not enforced. The bottom line is that it takes three months to see, every two

to three days, the same patients returning with alcohol intoxication or suicidal ideations.

My heart hurts, and I understand that as a future Nurse Practitioner with the desire to save

the world (I am not). Once I finish degree and certify, I would love to return to the reservation as

a provider. Also, I plan to continue my professional development as a DNP. I would love to

explore the possibility of learning from other tribes that have successfully implemented

behavioral health support.

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References

Olson, L. M., & Wahab, S. (2006). American indians and suicide. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse,

7(1), 19–33. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838005283005