remember when...

CNABESS · May 7, 2011

I remember having unit secretaries that handled so many things, and the nurses and aides were all busy doing their thing. Those lovely unit secretaries had things running so smoothly at the desk, and the whole floor seemed to function better. Of course charting was still done by hand then and there was time for it to get done before the end of shift. Now, when I leave my rehab unit at 11:30 after report, my poor nurses are always "just finishing up" with all the extra forms they could not get to because they were so busy in the floor meeting pt. needs. Heaven forbid there should be an incident on the floor. Then these poor nurses end up staying until 1 am to get it all done! Man, some things are just not right!!!!

Oh, and I remember the maalox trick too! We also had to do "reality orientation" w/ Dementia pts. It was supposed to be helpful, but was pretty cruel. Those poor folks could not get their minds to accept that it was not 1925 and their spouse was long dead. We also used to use restraints on a regular basis when people started wandering.

I remember when Depends came around and we thought it was a Godsend. Then we were told they were demeaning to the pt. and never use them. Instead let them sit and visit with their relatives and dump a load in their pants. That was much less demeaning! OY!

bsveillon · May 7, 2011

I remember having unit secretaries that handled so many things, and the nurses and aides were all busy doing their thing. Those lovely unit secretaries had things running so smoothly at the desk, and the whole floor seemed to function better. Of course charting was still done by hand then and there was time for it to get done before the end of shift. Now, when I leave my rehab unit at 11:30 after report, my poor nurses are always "just finishing up" with all the extra forms they could not get to because they were so busy in the floor meeting pt. needs. Heaven forbid there should be an incident on the floor. Then these poor nurses end up staying until 1 am to get it all done! Man, some things are just not right!!!!
Oh, and I remember the maalox trick too! We also had to do "reality orientation" w/ Dementia pts. It was supposed to be helpful, but was pretty cruel. Those poor folks could not get their minds to accept that it was not 1925 and their spouse was long dead. We also used to use restraints on a regular basis when people started wandering.
I remember when Depends came around and we thought it was a Godsend. Then we were told they were demeaning to the pt. and never use them. Instead let them sit and visit with their relatives and dump a load in their pants. That was much less demeaning! OY!

That really is NOT funny, but it made me laugh uncontrollably. I feel guilty! I think it's because it's so true how the LOGIC of HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION IS SO STUPID!!!!!!!!!! I know this is off the subject.

Anyway, I know I'm young, but I remember a few older things, mostly because this part of the USA is kinda behind the times (Not always a bad thing). I remember drawing blood with real needles and not these tubes. I also remember working with R.N.s(and them working with us) instead of being called "tech-school nurses". What's wrong with people today? What's wrong with nursing school today?

CNABESS · May 7, 2011

I am sorry. It was meant to be funny in a very facetious way. The reason things are truly funny is because they are true. I am certainly not belittling any of the people I have had the privilege to help take care of over the years. I hope nobody reads it this way. I apologize in advance if that is the way it came off. I just remember some of the ideas we had then, and how utterly foolish they look now. Also, the idea that health care facilities can do without those wonderful people that helped run things so smoothly, and the nursing staff can pick up the slack, is just as ridiculous!

bsveillon · May 7, 2011

Well, an apology of my own! I don't want you to get the impression that what you said was offensive. You came off just like you wanted to come off. You came off with dignity, respect and class, without actually disrespecting any of the "powers that be", so to speak, in the healthcare industry.

So, I for one understood you.

Sorry if I came off wrong. You are just fine

kjpstmb · May 7, 2011

You know, we still have unit secretaries, and they totally have the nurses station running smoothly. Don't know what we'd do without them!

firstlight · May 8, 2011

I remember when running 18 IV's without pumps. Cloth diapers, glass syringes and wearing

white uniforms.

sairin8 · May 9, 2011

It's the student nurses and charge nurses that wear the white uniforms now. And the two are almost identical (except the charge nurse uniform has a small logo embroidered to one sleeve and one breast pocket). Can be very confusing at times...

CNABESS · May 9, 2011

As mentioned on another, similar thread Yes, white uniforms, and they better be crisp and ironed! White stockings under your skirt, and those ugly nurse mates oxford shoes. Even as a NA and a student nurse, we were expected to look "professional and super white". For years after leaving nursing school (to have a baby), I did not wear white anything! Now that I am back to work, all my scrubs are blues, greens, and purples.

I also remember the "no gloves except for a sterile field" rule. We were not supposed to make any pt. feel like we were not willing to touch them. Oh, and having to do the blood sugar. HORRIFIED at what was considered a reading "1+ 2+ 3+" Man, having had two diabetic parents, I cringe now.

As a student nurse, I also remember the lectures about "you represent the nursing profession. Do not be seen out at bars and running around town. Pt. families may see you and think less of nursing" This was 27 years ago. Imagine, now there is Facebook to worry about!

There was no such thing as HIPAA. We talked about pts. to anyone and told families and friends anything. We were expected to answer all questions. Man, now if you leave the room without resetting your portable vitals to zero, you get written up for making information available to anyone. Things have changed so much.

Oh, and if you still have a unit secretary, count yourself as blessed.

CNABESS · May 9, 2011

Oh, and rectal temps. EVERYBODY in the facility had to have a rectal temp. done for vitals. Young, old, did not matter, no temp but a rectal temp was accurate. Man, I am glad we have better equipment today!

U2BCool · May 9, 2011

I remember is was mandatory to wear the flying nun nursing hat. I was giving so much grief because I hated wearing it. It used to fall off into all kinds of messes, patients would pull at it and it would always get caught in the curtains.

iNurseUK, RN · May 9, 2011

We used to give enemas with soapy water.

We used Eusol and liquid paraffin as dressings on infected wounds

Egg white and oxygen was used on pressure sores.

We wore starched white aprons over our uniform dresses.