Clayton Yocham is a one-of-a-kind nurse. A born adventurer praised for his calm and intelligent presence, Clayton has been described as “the kind of nurse you want to work with, a real team player” and “a truly gifted nurse.” We talked to him about his journey into nursing on Indigenous lands.
Hi Clayton! I know you are based in Arizona now. Where are you originally from?
Layfette, LA. I did a contract with Sells in AZ and I really liked it. After working there on and off for a few years, I moved my family to the Tucson area.
Are you a hiker?
Oh yes. I love hiking; I love the outdoors; that’s the main reason we moved out here.
You have to hike the Superstitions Mountains. They’re absolutely incredible.
That’s on our list! We’re definitely going to check that out.
How did you get into nursing?
Nursing is a second career for me. I graduated college in 2010 with a degree in industrial technology. I did not really know what I wanted to do and it was an easy degree. That led me to working on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and tanker ships doing trips all over the world. Eventually I decided I needed to get my life together and grow up, and find some stability.
My sister was always a nurse and I was always interested in the medical field, so I just figured, why not? And I went into nursing.
Do you and your sister talk shop?
Oh yeah, that’s all we talk about. Our family can’t stand it, it grosses them out, but it’s normal for us.
So how long have you been a nurse?
I’m going on 9-10 years now.
Have you done different kinds of nursing?
Always ER. I’ve worked in level 1 trauma centers all the way down to small little rural centers like Sells.
I like small emergency rooms at this point in my career. You don’t feel as rushed and you have more time with patients. With limited resources, you have to rely on your own skills and the skills of only a few other people, so it’s more hands on, and you’re more directly involved in everything.
In the large ERs, it feels like you’re basically just charting meds and then running to the next patient. The residents and the trauma teams get to do all the fun stuff. It’s fast-paced and chaotic. It’s a great place to learn but you can’t sustain it forever.
How did you connect to Tribal Health?
A recommendation from a friend – he was working for Tribal Health in South Dakota, I believe. We met in nursing school and we had been ER techs together in a local VA hospital back home. I was on a contract that got canceled due to COVID; it was that weird time when they were sending everyone home because everyone was afraid to come to the ER.
So he found out I was looking for a job and he said, “This company is awesome – why don’t you check them out?” I think I originally applied for a job in South Dakota but the recruiter asked if I would be interested in Sells. So I took it.
Was it your first time working on Indigenous lands?
No. The year before I came to Sells, I did a contract on the Crow reservation in Montana. That was awesome. It was my first introduction to working on Tribal lands and witnessing the great need for healthcare on the reservations. I was moved by the health disparities that I witnessed, I really had no idea about how things were on the reservations. It was a great experience, it was an adventure, I got to make a difference, I wanted to stay there forever.
So do you plan to keep working with Tribal nations?
Yes. I can see the good that I’m doing firsthand. There’s a tangible need there and you can be a part of serving that need. It’s very rewarding. These are small close-knit communities and you eventually get to know the patients and their families.
Any advice for nurses new to Indigenous lands?
Come into it with an open mind. You never know who’s going to walk through the door. You never know what resources you’ll have. Mostly likely your resources will be limited.
Meet the patient where they’re at and work from there. It’s not going to be like a big hospital in town, so let go of that and go with the flow. Advocate for your patient. It’ll be a great experience. Also get to know the local Tribal members; they will be a great resource for you.
What are your hobbies when you’re off the clock?
Mostly spending time with my wife and son hiking, riding the trails in the Jeep, and exploring all the amazing things to do in Arizona. I like to hunt and fish, and I am a big aviation nerd. Aviation museums, airshows, all of that kind of stuff. I even got my private pilot’s license a few years ago, so I try to stay current with all of that as well.
Sounds fascinating! Thank you, Clayton!
