1950s nursing

Nurses General Nursing

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I would love to hear how a nurses day went in the 1940s,50s, early 60s. Any major differences between now and then...any good stories to share?

Specializes in nursery, L and D.
That was an excellent tape. The technology has changed, along w/the fashions, but the lesson is very much the same.

Really great tape! It is really amazing what has changed...........and what hasn't. I felt like I had cared for that very woman! Had so many like her, and while some were just hateful so and so's, some really responded to the very things they did for the pt in the tape. Family involvement, pt involvement, comfort and reassurance. This reminded me why all those threads about "visiting hours" and "bad pts family" annoy me. Basically, those threads say "I want them to go away, and let me do my job". I have felt that way at some points. Some times we get caught up with the "tasks" of nursing and forget we are treating people..........I have done it, and try really hard not to. Great lesson for nursing in any time period.

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Specializes in Psychiatric.

I love this thread!! The funny thing is, I regularly get coffee for the two docs I work with. When they first asked me to get it for them I was speechless!!! Just who do they think I am??? But then I realized they could get to work faster if I got it for them :) and then leave just as fast. After a while, it was just a part of the job.

I would LOVE to hear about Psych nursing in the 1950's or so!!! I bet that has changed ALOT!!

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This post isn't specifically about nursing but what I remember of medicine "back in the day."

I grew up in the 50's and 60's. I remember our family doctor would come to the house if any of us were sick.

My grandfather was hospitalized a number of times for heart problems back in the late 50's when I was still in grade school. Under no circumstances were children under the age of 14 allowed in the hospital. And visiting hours were strictly adhered to.

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Patients brought to the ER did not have IV's. Most were transported by volunteers who just drove the "ambulance".

And the ambulances were station wagons!

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I think any pt in an iron lung had sufficient reason to be unhappy.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

In the 70's we were encouraged "not" to wear gloves, we were taught that using gloves might make the patient think that we thought that they were dirty and that's why we were wearing gloves.

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To the person who wrote about "Dr. Reich" and "Nurse Alma" in the 1950s/60s; I grew up in Roswell, New Mexico and my doctor's office was EXACTLY the same in every way except that our doctor was Dr. Briggs and he looked like Gregory Peck in the old move "To Kill a Mockingbird"...very scholarly with wire framed glasses, tall and stooped over, very thin. His nurse was Miss Vick...she was just like Alma except she had beautiful red hair which she wore in a bun at the back of her neck. She was tall and strong and stout and made me feel very safe...

I think it was the wonderful health care (and I emphasize CARE) that we got from them that made me decide to become the only nurse in my family. I am a Family Nurse Practitioner and have been an RN in Lubbock, Texas since 1995.

This is a great nursing web site!

Judy

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Was the material you had to learn in nursing school easier back then? did a lot of people drop out?

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My school (1965=1968) cost a total of $875. That included room, board, tuition, books, uniforms, including a cape---the works!!!

I know now most people could certainly afford it, but could the average person be able to afford that back then?

Also why did doctors stop making house visits?

And if you got your RN back in say the 1930s/1940s your license is still good today?

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Your license is still good if you keep renewing it.

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Specializes in Women's health & post-partum.
Was the material you had to learn in nursing school easier back then? did a lot of people drop out?

I think it was and it wasn't. (I've heard it said that medical knowledge doubles every 10 years.) And yes, a lot of people dropped out. However, I think a lot of the dropouts were people who didn't know what they were getting into, in addition to the ones who just couldn't cut it.

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Specializes in Women's health & post-partum.
Your license is still good if you keep renewing it.

Actually, it depends on your state. In my state, you can't renew without a certain number of hours of practice.

Uh, what was the question?

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