An Old Nurse's Journal

[Davey Do]

I began working as a CNA at Mom & Pop Nursing Home after graduating from the LPN program in January 1984. It wasn't long before I moved into a position as the MN LPN.

By March I began working at Weed Rover Township Hospital in the psych unit.

The above edited cartoon is one drawn by my younger brother. He said he believed it was what I looked like at work.

[Davey Do]

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[Davey Do]

I began learning medical terminology as a patient.

I learned my first medical term in 1963 at the age of six after undergoing surgery for a T&A.

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My Mom later told me that the medical term "tinkle", in layman's language, is "pee".

[Davey Do]

In the first semester of the RN program, one of the instructors giving a talk on the first day of class saying something like, "You all are about to go through some big changes in your life.... some of you will be divorced before this program ends".

"Pashaw!" I thought.

This is from my journal dated December 2 1989, near the end of my 3rd semester:

"Corrine and I woke up one morning a few weeks ago to find she no longer loved me. I couldn't believe it was true oh lord!

I said, 'We gotta go see a counselor'.

'Make the appointment', she replied.

'Oh good', I thought, 'She still wants to work on it!'

The afternoon before we left for our counseling appointment, Corrine told me she was only doing this for me. She had nothing left to give.

'Oh god!' I cried for the umpteenth time that day. 'My body's weak and my heart aches!'

I did not understand. Hadn't I done everything a good husband is suppose to do? Didn't I hug and kiss her? Brought her flowers? Did the dishes? Threaten her with sex? What did she mean she had nothing left to give? I had been doing a lot of giving!

I gave three or four days a week to my education! Five to bring home the bacon! Any spare time went to us! I rarely gave myself the time of day!

...As we drove through the darkness that comes with this time of year, we made plans. We were actually talking separating! Readying ourselves for what i didn't want to believe was the inevitable..."