Need help with homework assignment

[dlphillips]

Any input is greatly appreciated! Our assignment was given yesterday and is due on Monday. To bring something to class that was used in nursing 50 years ago. Not a picture of something, but the actually thing used. With so little time,....I am stumped. Any suggestions?

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Ok first let me say with an assignment like that they reallys should give you a little more time.

Anyway, do you happen to have an old glass thermometer at home? They used them in the '50s..right up until not that long ago.

Anything else I can think of you'd have to hunt down on the internet and might not get it in time.

[llg, PhD, RN]

How about things that relate to the provision of basic comfort and hygiene?

Washcloth

Towel

Soap

Pillow

Blanket

Your hands

Your mind

etc.

These types of things have always been the most important pieces of equipment in nursing -- yesterday AND today.

[MB37]

The basic hygiene items are a great idea! Otherwise, you can look for a nursing cap at a vintage store if you don't have any older nurses in your family.

[AlabamaBelle]

llg beat me to it! Seriously, these are such basic things and some things will never change even as we go increasing high tech.

Oh, do highlight your EARS - listening - such an important skill - not just for auscultation, but for hearing from your patient what you really need to hear. . . .

[cyndiangel13]

Maybe you can find an old Nursing magazine (AJN) or nursing textbook? Maybe something on E-bay or Amazon you can buy cheap and have mailed quickly?

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I love the idea of bringing parts of yourself like eyes, ears, heart, brain....

[cook1043]

I am sure they used stethescopes 50 years ago.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I am sure they used stethescopes 50 years ago.

If I'm not mistaken, in the 50's only the doctors used the stethescopes. Nurses weren't thought to be educated enought to use one and know what they were hearing. (can't remember where I read it but it was recently that I did)

In the 50's nurses were still though of as handmaidens to the docs.

[RedCell]

Any input is greatly appreciated! Our assignment was given yesterday and is due on Monday. To bring something to class that was used in nursing 50 years ago. Not a picture of something, but the actually thing used. With so little time,....I am stumped. Any suggestions?

Just show up as yourself and tell the dude that humans have been used in nursing before Nightingale was even a twinkle in her daddy's eye. That should really stump the genius who thought up this assignment and for sure give you an A for the day! Next week when you get the vaccination project, tell them that your ancestors were milkmaids that provided the cowpox immunity for Edward Jenner to become the Founding Father of Immunology.