The good ole days of nursing...share your stories!

[NurseLife88]

I'm am currently being precepted by a well seasoned nurse. She graduated from a diploma program in the mid 70s and has been a nurse ever since. I love the stories she shares about going to nursing school, sitting for nclex, and all the things she has seen and done over the years. There is such a big difference from when she started as a nurse to what nursing has become now. I am very interested in hearing stories from other nurses who have been in the field awhile as well as opinions on changes with schooling, work ethic, etc. Im interested in hearing comparisons of nursing now vs. back in the day. Any and all stories and opinions appreciated :)

[Farawyn]

Not necessarily good ole days but back "in the day"......

We let patients smoke in bed with oxygen!

Most nurses wore white nursing uniforms (dresses) with a school cap, nursing school pin, white stockings and "clinic" shoes.

Only using gloves for the really dirty jobs not routinely.

Maximum of two visitors with very restricted hours.

Night nurses could sleep on the job.

Had to calculate all IVs by drip rate (no pumps).

One nurse carrying and keeping track of THE narcotic keys.

Hand crank beds that did not have a built-in call light or TV control.

This is fun, keep 'em coming!

*flying tackle hug*

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

Speaking of good ole days. You looking good girl!

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

Not necessarily good ole days but back "in the day"......

We let patients smoke in bed with oxygen!

Most nurses wore white nursing uniforms (dresses) with a school cap, nursing school pin, white stockings and "clinic" shoes.

Only using gloves for the really dirty jobs not routinely.

Maximum of two visitors with very restricted hours.

Night nurses could sleep on the job.

Had to calculate all IVs by drip rate (no pumps).

One nurse carrying and keeping track of THE narcotic keys.

Hand crank beds that did not have a built-in call light or TV control.

This is fun, keep 'em coming!

I have a pair!

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

Oh heck. Why not:

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[amoLucia]

Does the "Welcome Wagon" still make rounds? Volunteers from the Gift Shoppe used to go room to room with a cart abundantly stocked with all kinds of sundries (that were also sold inside the Gift Shoppe) and snacks, etc.

I wore Clinics, too. Comfy at the time. Of course, I was younger and skinnier!

[amoLucia]

To WK - I see your pin on your right lapel.

To anyone out there - could there be some way that nurses here could post pix of their school pins (and caps!) and identify their schools??????

I think that'd be neat!

Of course, I don't have the computer savvy to post anything (computerily-challenged dinosaur here, grrrr).

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

To WK - I see your pin on your right lapel.

To anyone out there - could there be some way that nurses here could post pix of their school pins (and caps!) and identify their schools??????

I think that'd be neat!

Of course, I don't have the computer savvy to post anything (computerily-challenged dinosaur here, grrrr).

That's actually a button on the cape but my pin is on my lapel underneath. :)

[sevensonnets]

I still wear my pin. After 38 years fastening it on is as much a part of the morning routine as brushing my teeth. Only lost it one time. I cried! Finally found it in the pocket of my scrubs. It had come unfastened and slid down the front of me into my pocket!

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

To WK - I see your pin on your right lapel.

To anyone out there - could there be some way that nurses here could post pix of their school pins (and caps!) and identify their schools??????

I think that'd be neat!

Of course, I don't have the computer savvy to post anything (computerily-challenged dinosaur here, grrrr).

I'll be the first!

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[NurseLife88, ADN, RN]

Love this!:) Thanks for all the responses! Keep em coming!

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

I remember that IV bottles and chest tube containers were glass.

Patients were admitted for cataract surgery, and their recovery last for about a week with the patient lying flat on their back with sandbags next to their head so they wouldn't turn from side to side.

The floor had a single med nurse, who had to pour and dispense the meds from the locked medroom, for the entire floor from a single cart she wheeled up and down the hall.

Dalmane 15 or 30 mg po HS for sleep.

A female nurse without her cap was violating the dress code.

Smoking at the nurses station and in the coffee shop.

An appendectomy patient could expect to be hospitalized for 7-9 days.

I'm sure I'll think of more.

[Boomer MS, RN]

I remember that IV bottles and chest tube containers were glass.

Patients were admitted for cataract surgery, and their recovery last for about a week with the patient lying flat on their back with sandbags next to their head so they wouldn't turn from side to side.

The floor had a single med nurse, who had to pour and dispense the meds from the locked medroom, for the entire floor from a single cart she wheeled up and down the hall.

Dalmane 15 or 30 mg po HS for sleep.

A female nurse without her cap was violating the dress code.

Smoking at the nurses station and in the coffee shop.

An appendectomy patient could expect to be hospitalized for 7-9 days.

I'm sure I'll think of more.

I remember all of the above. And remember the guy admitted for back pain and in pelvic traction, but the patient spent a great deal of his time in the chair out of traction smoking? And I gave one codeine the entire shift. And the woman in pelvic traction who also spent little time in traction. MD said the time in the hospital for this woman gave her time to rest and get away from her kids, perhaps a source of her back pain. Can't blame insurance companies for questioning that! And no science whatsoever that pelvic traction helped back pain, theory being that the 20# of traction was able to distract the vertebrae and thus relieve the pain. Those were the days....