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

elkpark · Apr 30, 2017

What do Psych patients have to look forward to for the rest of their lives today? Really? Yes, there are some group homes, state long-term facilities for forensic pts in particular, lots of meds, shock treatments, therapies, maybe a little job, being on disability, but also periods of homelessness and loads of illicit drugs and alcohol. HOnestly not all that much better.

Umm, I wasn't making any kind of general statement about the quality of life of the chronically mentally ill then and now; I was just responding to a poster who said that, back in the "good old days," only old people were in nursing homes.

PANYNP · Apr 30, 2017

I graduated from a diploma school in 1984.
I still believe it was tbe best way to get a nursing education. Here are a few of my gems:
-NG to low Gomco suction
-3 bottle chest tube water seal
-Working as a GN for months
-Preop coctail:demerol/vistaril/atropine.. .everyone got it.
-NO pumps!
-metal bovie pads
-Punching in with actual time cards
-Cardex care plans

Preach, Sistah!

BritchickBSN · May 2, 2017

I remember those days; I trained as a diploma nurse in England; the Sister had a 'weekend cleaning' book- all mercury thermometers were cleaned, utility rooms wiped down, the metal and plastic bedpans were disinfected, and nurses made all the beds, served and fed patients, and went round in the evening before the end of the late shift with a hot drinks trolley- tea, coffee, Horlicks, coca, etc. Our Sister came down on you like a ton of bricks if when she inspected the patients TPR charts (hung on the end of the bed) and saw missing respirations. She also reprimanded you if you were called by your first name not 'Staff Nurse...." Narcotics were signed out from a big ledger, the patients telephone was a pay phone that could wheel around from patient to patient, and their were no TV's. The lovely dress and hat made it impossible to do most manual handling and lifting maneuvers. The Drs. started IV's, and they did not run through a pump. Surgeons were gods and nurses were meer handmaidens to shout at. Ahhh. The good old days!

sevensonnets · May 2, 2017

They weren't necessarily the good old days. I started out in a small private hospital 38 years ago. One of our GI docs thought he was god and got treated like one. The GI floor belonged to him. No other patients were accepted, not even other GI docs' patients. The GI lab really did belong to him; he built it! He could make nurses shake in their shoes because if he didn't like you or you violated one of his rules (all vitals and daily weights charted by 10 am no later) he would take revenge. He would quietly write a backdated order after the fact then come to the nurse and go Why was this lab not done?This was back in the day when charge nurses made rounds with the docs. He'd call up and demand for his charts to be stacked on a cart by 11 am and he'd be there any minute but he didn't come till 2. Heaven help you if you tried to sneak one to chart. I think this may have been a hanging offense. My friend who was charge would make rounds with him and then go in the bathroom and throw up every single day. When he went to glory a few years ago I doubt a soul on earth mourned the old buzzard not even his wife.

pdrthenurse · May 28, 2017

Yes, I agree! Nursing stories are fascinating. I am currently intrigued by memoirs and stories about nursing in the UK, during the 40's and 50's. Stories about training at the "Royal", District Nursing, etc. are all very interesting to say the least. Can you imagine telling an R.N. students, to go down to the basement and get a bucket of coal and to put it on the fire, today? or that part of her morning duties would be to cook breakfast for ALL of her pt's on her ward! I'd just like to see the expression on their faces!