When our older nurses die :(

[Emergent]

The new, young ones are coming up. Just got the news today about a neat old nurse who died suddenly. We always kept in touch, our paths crossed in life on a medical unit years ago.

She went to nursing school when it was run by the nuns. I always liked looking for her picture in the old building. Now a for profit owns the hospital, healthcare isn't what it used to be.

She was a strong, vital, kind, hard-working woman, wholesome and dependable.

The world is changing. Some changes are okay, but a lot has been lost to us, never to be regained. A bit of valiant, strong goodness died this week.

It's up to the younger men and women to keep these values alive now.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

I've had the privilege of working under some of the old guard. I met a patient today who is in her 80s, retired as a nurse at age 70, and still loves our profession. She and I talked about the cape and cap (and I showed her my homage I do every year.) She intimated that at her funeral she wants to hold her cap in her hands and have her cape on display. I got a bit misty eyed at that.

She was pleased that this youngin' loves to wear the cape and cap. I am honored.

[cocoa_puff]

I have taken care of several retired nurses who were educated in hospital-based diploma schools back in the 1950s and 60s. They told me how they used to go to class all morning, work on the floors from 3-11 as the primary nurses, then work weekends as a nursing assistant. They hit the floor running once they were RNs and didn't need the length of orientation that we need now as new grads. Nursing education was at a different caliber back then, as was the work ethic of the nursing students. I have so much respect for the older, experienced nurses I work with. I have learned so much from them, and as a brand new nurse, I hope to be like them someday

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

OP I am so sorry for your loss of your mentor.

There is a great deal to grieve when one's "calling" becomes a "business plan".

There are more times I can count when I do think "My former DON is rolling in her grave right now". It is not like it used to be. And I am not getting more used to the customer service aspect as time goes on.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Those old nurses are lucky they didnt have to work in the atmosphere that we are in now.

They were respected back in their day. Good for them.

Sorry for your loss OP

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

OP I am so sorry for your loss of your mentor.

There is a great deal to grieve when one's "calling" becomes a "business plan".

There are more times I can count when I do think "My former DON is rolling in her grave right now". It is not like it used to be. And I am not getting more used to the customer service aspect as time goes on.

You can say THAT again. Nursing hasn't been the same since TPTB turned hospitals and nursing homes into hotels.

[llg, PhD, RN]

"Standing on the shoulders of giants" is an old expression that is relevant here. We contemporary nurses "stand on the shoulders" of all the nurses who have come before us. Our vision and accomplishments rest on the foundation they built for us.

May they rest in peace ... and be fully appreciated by those of us who have benefitted from their labors.

[Neats, BSN]

I went to a Catholic nursing school. Sister Mary Margret was my mentor, wonderful nurse, wonderful human being, and she was mean. She walked around with a ruler. One night while working in my senior year she came storming down the hallway with that ruler in one hand and papers in another...I knew it was for me and it was. She threw down the papers and asked me what I did not do right. I review all the papers and finally saw my first med error...Vitamin C. It was written not on the order sheet but in the planning area. This patient was allergic to everything under the sun and had wounds, how could I have missed this. I owned my mistake and started to say so when she smacked me on the side of my face with the ruler...it smarted and I took it like a champ. I fixed my mistake and this was a painful lesson to me. When I went to my college reunion Sister Mary Margaret was there retired, older and beautiful to me. She was so happy to see me, hugged me and we started to chat. I asked her why she was so mean to me...she stated I always was hard on the good ones so you all would be better...I responded man I must have been real good.

Would not trade that education in a heart beat.

Now it feels like speaking to new nurses I need to formulate A, B C or D scenario choices for their replies.

[target98765]

I'm sorry for your loss but times indeed changed and nurses are no longer the folks who does everyone's b work. We are highly trained, well educated advanced professionals many of whom in hospital leadership positions or running independent practices. Yes it's unfortunate that we don't have a tradition of wearing the uniform and cap but you better believe it that I'm glad we've progressed passed that point. Granted I'm a dude so that's another benefit.

Very insensitive comment here. What is really sad is that you felt the need to write such a comment; this is what makes me pause and consider what we have "coming up" in the ranks via younger nurses.

Original poster; I am very sorry for your loss.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I can understand that we shouldn't pine for the "good old days" because they weren't always so good. However, this is about respecting older nurses. They are a source of wisdom, strength and critical thinking. Listen to them, learn from them.

Older nurses...respect the younger generation, they are good hard workers and they are eager to learn. Be the mentor to them.

I've now reached the point where at 57 I'm one of two older nurses on my unit. I try hard to listen and learn from my younger colleagues, but I know they look to me to help them answer their questions. It's not easy being the mentor, but I embrace it.

[azureblue]

To AAC.271, BSN, RN, EMT-B: Gee, back when I graduated in '74 we were "highly trained, well educated advanced professionals many of whom [were] in hospital leadership positions or running independent practices." And you think your generation is the first to be described that way? I would hope that the rest of your generation doesn't have the same immature, limited view of older nurses. Learn some history, and develop some appreciation for what has gone before you, man.

[aleesamobley]

Hey AAC.271 - thanks to you for posting a comment that was both honest and true. As an older nurse myself (who stills has a cap in a clear plastic hat box) each nurse here (including yourself) should be able to voice your comments and opinion without being attacked on a personal level. To my nurse peers and colleagues, where is the civility? Perhaps the tone was not as empathetic as that of others, but nothing in the statement was disrespectful. Keep in mind that your personal attacks are a very subtle and effective way of making minorities (including men in nursing) feel unwanted and are typically engineered (even if subconsciously) to silence those who say things we do not want to hear. Be nurses, be supportive. It may be that I can probable appreciate the remembrance of a beloved colleague/peer/mentor more often than most of you. I believe those of us who are closer to the end of our careers would like to know the personal ethics of the profession continue to improve.

[DAWR]

As a Nursing student at my age, I look differently at Nursing than some of the younger students. I have the privelege of having known a few old school nurses who have taught me much, shared stories with me of their lives in Nursing and the training they received. I hope she knows that although she was tough on many, she is highly respected among students...Sister Sheila, a nurse in her 80's who has been a nurse and nun her entire life. She worked for a time on the island of Molokai (look it up) and shared with me stories of life there. There is nothing like the nurses of the past which we are losing from both the profession and life, and whom we are honored to follow into this profession.