old skills that we do not use anymore

galenight, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2004

About 6-8 years ago we were using a then-outdated procedure for bowel obstructions..... the cantor tube. Sink it... have 'em turn on right side for so long, then on left side for so long... i forget exactly how it went.... dangerous stuff.. it was weighted with mercury... yup.. mercury... even had one bust in a patient once. It was not pretty. I think that was the last time we used it. That old school doc just loved them though, well... almost as much as he loved taking everyone's gallbladder within a 50 mile radius...lol

CHATSDALE · Sep 17, 2004

this old nurse i took care of once told us of how things were when she was in school and early years of nursing....she was in a live=in nursing schools and they would hit them up a 5a to sterlize needles etc b/4 breakfast...then they would have class, scrub floors and walls other duties...lights out at 9p....when she went to work pay $150.00 a month...hospital did uniform laundry...undies washed by hand...she joined the army and went to korea...met husband who was career military...saw nursing change and change mustly for the good i think

leslie :-D · Sep 17, 2004

We used to use something called "common sense." Now, I wonder where it went. :chuckle

thank you.

live4today, RN · Sep 17, 2004

I remember days gone by in nursing when blood pressure cuffs on the wall above patients beds actually worked.

I remember when nurses had autonomy, and could actually go to bat for their patients and be respected for doing so.

I remember when there wasn't a shortage of dinemap machines on the floor, and didn't have to steal one from the other floors.

I remember when nurses had time to actually spend with each patient, teaching patients and their family members about things they needed to learn in order to perform their own dressing changes at home, etc.

I remember when WHAT we wore had some degree of respect attached to it.

I remember when it was perfectly acceptable to ask family members to exit the patients room when the nurse needed private time with the patients.

Shall I go on?..........Okay, I will.

I remember when nurses were NOT required to do everything under the sun like they are required to do today, yet with LESS pay and LESS respect.

I remember when patients were admitted to the hospital, I actually had time to fully admit them without fear of the "chart monitor" sneaking around checking off what PAPERS had not been signed within 24 hours.

I remember when I LOVED being a nurse because the respect was there, the thankfulness of the patients and family were there, and no one watched every move I made and wrote down everything I did just in case they needed those notes for a lawsuit.

Come to think of it....does REAL NURSING exist anymore!!! :rotfl:

skap · Sep 17, 2004

Amen Cheerfuldoer!!!! Well said, I totally agree with you, and I've only been a nurse for a little over 5 years....it's like "Big Brother" is watching......

Jolie, BSN · Sep 17, 2004

How about L&D and NICU nurses actually having to suck on DeLee catheter to clear the airways of meconium-stained newborns? Yeech! I know more than one nurse who got a mouthful of meconium.

There is a mall near our house with a playland sponsored by a local children's museum. One section of the playland has a number of doors that the children can open to manipulate an object inside. One object is a rotary phone. Neither of my girls knew what it was!

sassykitkatt · Sep 18, 2004

I recall using a rotating tourniquet machine as part of the protocol in the treatment of pulmonary edema. Of course, that was accompanied by IV Lasix. Apparently studies revealed that rotating tourniquets were totally ineffective in the management of CHF/Pulmonary Edema.

Wow I never heard of that. When was that used?

This one girl told me about the Iron Lung that was for pneumonia patients. She said they used that up until the late 70's. But a rotating tourniquet, that would have been something to see and to use. thanx!!!!!!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Sep 18, 2004

How about long division to average cardiac outputs and figure out SVRs?

luv l&d · Sep 18, 2004

In the "olden days", I could shake a mean thermometer, and take a brachial bp without a stethoscope.

sassykitkatt · Sep 18, 2004

Saline down the trach is still effective if you have a muc. plug, they stopped doing it because they felt whatever germs there were got pushed furter down into the lungs when saline was used.

I still don't believe that. I really think that loosens up the secretions and i would probably still use it. I have seen it still being used in the critical care area in the closed suctions systems.

live4today, RN · Sep 18, 2004

How about long division to average cardiac outputs and figure out SVRs?

Learning math that requires the use of ones brain would be a miracle today. :rolleyes: What! No calculators to figure out the problem? :rotfl:

truern · Sep 18, 2004

I remember sharpening reusuable needles on a stone floor......

not really, but it sounded good :chuckle