Kyiha

We wore white uniforms, white hose and nursing shoes (no sneakers) and of course our nursing caps. This was before ICD-9 (now 10) codes and DRGs so it was not unusual for us to keep elderly patients over the holidays so that family members could have a respite. There was NO orientation or preceptors; my first day on the job just out of Nursing School I was charge over 1/2 of the Unit, the second day I did charge over the entire 30 bed Unit (and it's not as if I had experience prior to Nursing School; I was not a CNA or LPN before obtaining my RN). However, most of my career was in the Emergency Dept. The ED docs loved to teach (those of us who were eager to learn). We worked as a team and it was very rewarding. Recently I worked PRN on the Unit and noticed how things have changed. The patients, especially the 30 and 40 year olds, want to be catered to. The elderly are afraid of losing their independence and want to get up on their own, increasing the risk of falls.