MajitaRN

I graduated in 1963. I was 20 years old. I graudated from a teaching hospital. We had to wear the hats, which in the hospital I graduated from, were gauze like round things with a black ribbon around the edge. We wore starched uniforms and white shoes. We were responsible for our patients, some housekeeping and assisted interns whose job it was to start IV's. We lifted heavy patients without the aid of a machine; the needles and syringes were placed in a large drawer where we would assemble them. We didn't have telemetry, scans, and b/p were taken with a stethescope and spygnomanometer Phlebitis was teated with warm towels wrapped around the patients legs. When they got cold, they were changed to another set of warm, wet towels. The only disposable item I can remember was the paper cup at the water fountain. We also put up with what you would call sexual harassment today. I worked labor/delivery, and there was a doctor old enough to be my grandfather who loved to disrobe down to his boxer shorts. One of us had to put his gown on. We complained, but were told it was easier to replace one of us than a physician. I can't tell you how happy I was the first time I saw a disposable enema can. That's all this old girl can remember. Oh, the pay was terrible!

I've been a nurse since 1961. I graduated from a very large teaching hospital in New York City. At that time, the only things disposable were paper cups. Interns, and residents started IV's . When a patient came in with phlebatis, the treatment was to cover her legs with warm towels which would be removed periodically. There were no ward clerks, no computers, no monitors and we were expected to a small amount of housekeeping. We word stiff hats, starched uniforms, polished, white shoes, hair couldn't touch the coller, low salary, and we had to put up with sexual harassment to boot. I was 20 when I graduated from nursing school and I worked with an OB doctor, who removed all his clothing and one of us had to put on his gown. He got a big thrill out of this. When we complained we were told it was easier to replace on of us, than a physician. Oh, and the treatment for ulcers was Maalox and milk. The first time I saw a disposable enema can, I was sooo happy.LOL!