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Contact: Liz Carroll
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Release date: May 9, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Discovering "a big vision" of healing

GCC nursing students study Native American healing traditions at Navajo Reservation hospital

"I think there's a lot more [to healing] than meets the eye," says Stephen DeGerski of Greenfield, one of seven honors nursing students at Greenfield Community College who spent three weeks last January at an Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital on the Navajo Reservation in Chinle, Arizona.

This unique experience that is offered once every two years took the students to Arizona to learn how healing traditions can complement conventional medicine. "The hospital we go to in Chinle is the only IHS hospital to have a medicine man on staff," says Cheri Ducharme, Associate Professor of Nursing. "The Native American patients come to the hospital seeking western medicine, but many have a strong belief in traditional healing ceremonies. Having a medicine man enables the hospital to provide a holistic approach to healing."

Inside the hospital, students participated in clinical rotations that introduced them to Navajo patients. "They're just beautiful people." stated Nancy Hodecker, of Brattleboro. "I worked with several elderly Navajo women. They have the most beautiful skin, and you see so much in their faces."

Students were invited to attend a healing ceremony that took place at one patient's home. DeGurski explained that the group felt very privileged to be invited to the last night of the nine-day ceremony. Dancers were in full costume and chanting could be heard coming from inside the ceremonial hogan. "This is not a tourist attraction it's a very spiritual healing ceremony." said DeGurski.

The students went to provide nursing care within a different culture and to gain an understanding, appreciation and respect for Navajo healing practices. The lessons of the trip extend beyond Native American healing. "I think one of the most important things we can do as health care providers is to suspend judgement and try to understand where somebody's coming from," says Marie Doherty of Northhampton, " and to help facilitate any form of health care that they could benefit from."

This unique learning experience is largely funded by a generous gift to the GCC Foundation from an anonymous donor.

"[This trip] says a lot about GCC" says Hodecker. "I don't think people realize what a big vision GCC has, to offer something like this. I'm just so glad I did it."

[with input from student Danielle Woodlock]