Fun stuff in the mail!

[smattles1of2]

Yay, now that i've sent in my letter of intent i'm getting all sorts of fun stuff in the mail. Today I got an order form to purchase a Nursing Skills Kit (required for my school). It includes all sorts of goodies like bandage scissors, penlight, gloves, gauze, tape, blood pressure cuff, iv start kit, trach care kit, iv solution bag, syringes and needles...all in a blue canvas bag Fun!

I also got an order form to get my uniform with the school name embroidered on it! Whee...this is fun :) Pricey...but fun!

[catzy5]

Speaking of nursing goodies. My mother, who passed away a few years ago, once told me of a nursing cape that they were given as part of their uniform when they were in nursing school. She always talked about how beautiful the cape was. I remember asking about it as a child what happened to it, she said, "I can't remember where I put it, so I probably accidently lost it somewhere over the years."

My father and I were going through a trunk in the attic (only accessable by ladder, not stairs), and for some reason, he thought it belonged to me. I told him I never had a trunk, and he knew it wasn't his, so we opened it.

Keep in mind, we never went up to the attic.

The trunk was lined with satin and filled with cedar blocks, and there was an organizer on top....we lifted the organizer and laying, perfectly folded and wrapped in dry-cleaners plastic, was my mothers beloved cape.

It was navy, with the initials of her hospital embrodered in gold on the collar, the lining was red satin or silk, and had her initials embrodered on the inside as well. It was in perfect condition and had no odor.

Even though these capes are no longer "en vogue" as they once were so many years ago, when I get my nursing degree, I want to have my picture taken in the cape...as we have a picture of my mother wearing her full nursing uniform with the cape as well.

I'm so glad I found it.

Thats a lovely story!

My mom was also a nurse from the "old school" I fully remember watching her get ready for her 3-11 shift with her white cap she had a couple all starched and pefect I used to love to watch her iron them. She had the cape too I have no idea if she saved it though but I remember seeing pictures, she went to school right out of high school and told me horror stories of her Nursing school experience, she was not one who loved it back then. None of us ever followed thru with nursing because it seemed like not even an option. But now as adults 2 of the 5 girls have gone back to school to pursue what must be in our genes LOL

[BSNtobe2009]

Thanks for all of the kind comments! I'm glad you enjoyed my story.

She wore an all-white uniform (never scrubs) until her retirement in 1999, after 43 years, "My job" when I was a child, was to polish her nursing shoes EVERY day with (and I can still remember the brand) Nurse White-brand shoe polish.

The last thing she did before she left for the night shift was come to my bedroom so I could zip her up.

She washed her uniform every single day, starched, and ironed it. She always wore full-makeup when she left. She ditched the cap along with everyone else years ago, but she really believed in looking the part.

[BSNtobe2009]

Thats a lovely story!

My mom was also a nurse from the "old school" I fully remember watching her get ready for her 3-11 shift with her white cap she had a couple all starched and pefect I used to love to watch her iron them. She had the cape too I have no idea if she saved it though but I remember seeing pictures, she went to school right out of high school and told me horror stories of her Nursing school experience, she was not one who loved it back then. None of us ever followed thru with nursing because it seemed like not even an option. But now as adults 2 of the 5 girls have gone back to school to pursue what must be in our genes LOL

I heard the horror stories too. Having to get out of bed in the middle of the night to watch an autopsy, having curfew's, but she really loved being with the other girls.

She actually had to attend two different nursing schools to get her certification. She actually got kicked out of her first one...for getting married to my father! Big no-no back then. She found another school that were accepting married ladies, and she finished her education that way.