Our September Nurse of the Month is Ash Davis, RN. A well-traveled nurse with considerable experience under his belt, Ash recently saved a patient’s life with his keen observation skills. Nurse Supervisor Todd Gilbert says, “Even though Ash is from Kentucky and is a Wildcat, being from Tennessee and a Volunteer, I still like and respect him…. Lol. But seriously, Ash has a great amount of compassion for the patients he takes care of, and it is greatly appreciated as a colleague! Thank you, Ash, for all you do for our patients, department, and community, sir!”
Hi Ash! How long have you been a nurse?
14 years. I’ve been traveling for almost 9.
Do you like traveling better?
Yes. I like going to different areas. Seeing different facilities, different patients, helps you expand your nursing skills. There are different protocols, different standing orders, and you have to adapt to that.
It sounds like you’re naturally adaptable. Is that how you got into nursing?
Believe it or not, it started out as a midlife crisis.
At University of Kentucky, I earned an agriculture degree, intending to run the family farm. But we decided to disperse the family farm. A cow kicked my finger off when we were getting ready for a sale and after my finger got reattached, my father told me to get a real job with insurance.
I worked for Kentucky Board of Medical Services and Deputy EMPD Director for the state. I helped out with Hurricane Rita; I was in Beaumont, Texas an hour after it hit. I watched the paramedics and thought, this is cool, maybe I should try this. I also went on a mission trip to China and that really inspired me to help humanity.
I got my license and opted to become a nurse because I thought I would be a nurse anesthetist. I started out in ICU. But after I got my BSN, I fell into an ER nursing job and that’s where I’ve been for 12 years.
How did you hear about Tribal Health?
I traveled for several years and spent a lot of time in Lakota Nation. One of my friends went to work for Tribal Health and then another and they asked me to consider joining. I always loved Native culture and studied Native culture in college. Every place I’ve gone, I learned a little more about it. I’m a collector of anything Native made.
What is your favorite part of working on Indigenous lands?
Just getting to meet the people and experience the culture. They’re all different in some ways, with different understandings and rules. It’s matriarchal; an adult son can come into the facility, but his mother tells you what is wrong with him.
Does the weather in the Great Plains bother you?
I would rather have winter in the Great Plains than Kentucky. I’d live up there if I could. There’s lots of humidity in Kentucky and Oklahoma; in the Great Plains, there isn’t that humidity. I have MS and it affects that.
Currently, though, I’m in Ganado, Arizona.
What are your hobbies and interests when you’re not working?
Well, I was working 9-10 days in a row; now I do 7 on, 7 off. But after I worked 10 days in a row, I brought my nephew and his best friend out here to spend 4-5 days with me. We went up to Page in Lake Powell and went out on the lake. We also went to Antelope Canyon. But on our way to Zion, a deer jumped out in front of us and totaled my Passport!
One day a week, I go to Gallup and that’s my getaway day.
I love your appetite for adventure. What advice would you give nurses new to Indigenous lands?
Start out at a place where you feel comfortable. I had to learn a lot of stuff really quick and that helps because you know who to ask.
Also, research the place. Find out if it’s the place you want to go, what your resources will be, who’s going to be on hand to assist. You need to find out the resources the hospital has to see if you’re a good fit for they want. Ask that during your first interview: what their staffing is.
It’s not all about the money. You have to be the right fit and you want to have a good experience.
Thank you, Ash!
