Oh dear I really have set myself off on a trip down memory lane!! Recently a doctor called me "very old school" I think it was meant as a complement but unsurprisingly I was horrified but to be fair when I look back so many things have changed so.... so you know your old school when you remember......
Metal bed pans that had to be washed in the bedpan washer. Kind nurses used to warm them with hot water as they were freezing cold and would have patients hopping off the bed :)
Female nurses only being allowed to wear dresses and hats. The number of stripes on your hat indicated how long you had been training and when qualified you got a cotton one with lace trim. Evil things they were you used to spend half your life pinning them back as confused patients knocked them off
Unless you were married you had to live in the nurses home whilst training. Lights were meant to be out by 11pm and the house mother used to do spot checks on the rooms to make sure no men were hidden away!!!!:redbeathe Once a month an army bus used to come and pick all the student nurses up and take them back to the barracks were 300 army boys were waiting for a free disco, free food, free drink and far to much free love :)
We were not allowed to tell patients our first name and were called Student Nurse Smith. When a patient died we would dress them in a shroud, put a flower in their folded hands and then they would e wrapped in a sheet. A window would be left open to allow their soul to leave. They would go off to Rose Cottage, never called the mortuary. The nurse in charge would always say "there be 2 more before the week's out" as in those days people only ever died in threes!!!!
The wards were long open plan called Nightingale wards. 15 patients down each side. We had a back trolley and every two hours would work our way up and down the ward turning and cahnging every patient. We used to rub something onto pressure areas but I can't remember what it was. If you had lots of dependent patients then it was like painting the forth bridge - as soon as you had finished it was time to go round again!!! At Christmas a huge tree would be delivered and we would decorate the beds with tinsel - wouldn't be allowed today becuase of infection risks.
Consultant ward rounds were like a royal visit. They occured at the same time on set days. The Consultant would only talk with the Sister and you were expected to have every pt in bed, sheet folded to middle of the chest looking tidy!!!!! Never figured out how to make a pt look tidy.
Getting your silver nurses buckle was like a right of passage. As soon as you got your results from your final exams the whole set headed off to the only jewellers that stocked buckles and chose their badge. I still wear mine but it's fair to say the belt is notably bigger
Male nurses and female doctors were rare. Now in my department we have more male nurses than female definitely a change for the better.
We took temperatures with a glass mercury filled thermometer covered in a disposable plastic cover and BP's were taken with a manual syphg and stethescope.
I am sure there are more but please other old school nurses share your memories with me :)
Specializes in Med/Surge, Geriatrics(LTC), Pediatricts,.
I do wonder if there is a club for those of us who collect vintage things of Nursing. I also have a collection of other "stuff" such as a tin band aide box, remember those, pre cardboard box? I had an enameled metal bed pan with measureing pitcher, in one of my moves, it got lost though. My text book was a Rosedal, Lipincott publisher, the blue cover iwth silver and white lettering, from the 80's. Some of the pictures in that one though! What a blast! I also have a Nursing cardiology book, and it tells how "you must keep the pts very still, as not to loosen the suction on the suction cups..." But the rythms are the same, and I'm using that book as an adjunct for learning my strips for ALS EMT.
My other name is "Dora the Explorer" much better than "Dumb Dora was so Dumb," "How Dumb was she?" I'd like to get a copy of that old movie with Nurse Dora. Another thing I like are old movies with the classic actors, Humphry Bogart, Katherin Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart...
Specializes in criticalcare, nursing administration.
I have almost the whole Cherry Ames book collection. Anyone remember those?? Cherry Ames student nurse, Cherry Ames Camp nurse etc.... Fascinating to re-read....
Specializes in med/surg; LTC.....LPN, RN, DON; TCU.
I have fond memories of the "tips" my mom and grandmother exchanged about how to keep their uniforms "acceptable". I iron my scrubs and my female co-workers find it hard to believe that I do my own laundry and iron/starch my clothes. One thing that I was told and have found to be true; Pts are forming opinions of you by your uniform. I had the experience of knowing WWII military nurses and found that things may change over time but the basics stay true: sharp uniform + sharp nurse = what the pt sees.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
This wasn't from nurses, but it's health related, I remember when moms used to force you on your side once a week to get peroxide poured in your ear to "keep it clean" and it tickled and was annoying to listen to it bubble. We used peroxide on everything and the foaming on a cut showed how magically it was and was working so we should stop squirming. LOL This thread just made me think about that.
Lupan: that is a thomas splint....the piece added at the bend is the Hare extension.
Sorry my eyesight is wonky still.
I must apologize my brain went on hiatus.. a hare traction splint is a full ring two bar splint and I believe the ankle is bound to apply the extension
Oh dear I really have set myself off on a trip down memory lane!! Recently a doctor called me "very old school" I think it was meant as a complement but unsurprisingly I was horrified but to be fair when I look back so many things have changed so.... so you know your old school when you remember......
Metal bed pans that had to be washed in the bedpan washer. Kind nurses used to warm them with hot water as they were freezing cold and would have patients hopping off the bed :)
Female nurses only being allowed to wear dresses and hats. The number of stripes on your hat indicated how long you had been training and when qualified you got a cotton one with lace trim. Evil things they were you used to spend half your life pinning them back as confused patients knocked them off
Unless you were married you had to live in the nurses home whilst training. Lights were meant to be out by 11pm and the house mother used to do spot checks on the rooms to make sure no men were hidden away!!!!:redbeathe Once a month an army bus used to come and pick all the student nurses up and take them back to the barracks were 300 army boys were waiting for a free disco, free food, free drink and far to much free love :)
We were not allowed to tell patients our first name and were called Student Nurse Smith. When a patient died we would dress them in a shroud, put a flower in their folded hands and then they would e wrapped in a sheet. A window would be left open to allow their soul to leave. They would go off to Rose Cottage, never called the mortuary. The nurse in charge would always say "there be 2 more before the week's out" as in those days people only ever died in threes!!!!
The wards were long open plan called Nightingale wards. 15 patients down each side. We had a back trolley and every two hours would work our way up and down the ward turning and cahnging every patient. We used to rub something onto pressure areas but I can't remember what it was. If you had lots of dependent patients then it was like painting the forth bridge - as soon as you had finished it was time to go round again!!! At Christmas a huge tree would be delivered and we would decorate the beds with tinsel - wouldn't be allowed today becuase of infection risks.
Consultant ward rounds were like a royal visit. They occured at the same time on set days. The Consultant would only talk with the Sister and you were expected to have every pt in bed, sheet folded to middle of the chest looking tidy!!!!! Never figured out how to make a pt look tidy.
Getting your silver nurses buckle was like a right of passage. As soon as you got your results from your final exams the whole set headed off to the only jewellers that stocked buckles and chose their badge. I still wear mine but it's fair to say the belt is notably bigger
Male nurses and female doctors were rare. Now in my department we have more male nurses than female definitely a change for the better.
We took temperatures with a glass mercury filled thermometer covered in a disposable plastic cover and BP's were taken with a manual syphg and stethescope.
I am sure there are more but please other old school nurses share your memories with me :)
OMG You remind me of my Great Aunt Molly (from Fife). She was called "old school" in Scotland during the 80s. Sometimes my mum says I channel her. She talked about checking stocking seams and all manner of stuff. She was a woman in charge! I have HUGE respect for those of you who blazed before us. A family member of mine is off to Scotland this summer and they will be getting a copy of some of her photos from back in the day -- she was an impressive lady in uniform (and in normal life).
I have fond memories of the "tips" my mom and grandmother exchanged about how to keep their uniforms "acceptable". I iron my scrubs and my female co-workers find it hard to believe that I do my own laundry and iron/starch my clothes. One thing that I was told and have found to be true; Pts are forming opinions of you by your uniform. I had the experience of knowing WWII military nurses and found that things may change over time but the basics stay true: sharp uniform + sharp nurse = what the pt sees.
I iron too. I just read an article (Crit Care Nursing) about how patients judge our nursing skills. Of course it is on presentation and communication. Love my fellow students but they look like they slept in their scrubs. Not an inspiring thing.
Specializes in Med/Surge, Geriatrics(LTC), Pediatricts,.
I too iron and starch my uniforms, it is a policy for the home health agency I work for that our uniforms are neatly pressed and we are presentable. This is one task that I kept up with from day one of my carreer. It is something handed down from my Grandmother, to my Mom, to me, always present yourself in the best possible way and you'll be respected better. And this one simple task, seems to be the downslide to nursing, since most young folks today don't iron their clothes, some don't own an iron and iron board, let alone know what one is! Yes, I too agree: "sharp uniform, sharp nurse, what pt sees."
For the new nurses to the field who believe that taking pains to launder, starch and press your uniforms is a waste of time, that what counts is what's in your brain, think again, pts prefer nurses who are neat and tidy, well groomed, and have their uniforms starched and pressed. Also, if your uniforms, shoes included, are clean and presentable, you will do a better job at your nursing skills. Don't believe me? try it, take a study of how you are received in your present state, rumpled uniforms, dirty sneakers, hair down, long fingernails with polish, and bedazzled with jewelry, then change, and take the pains to press and starch your uniforms, get a pair of white shoes, just for work, keep them polished and clean, keep your hair pinned up, trim your nails, and take the polish and jewels off, also no perfumes, must smell like "nothing, just clean." and see the difference in your performance as well as how the pts receive you. Oh, no makeup either. Face should be scrubbed clean. If you don't own a iron and iron board, Wall Mart has them at reasonable price, for about $20 can get both. And a can of spray starch, Niagara is the best that's affordable and available.
have almost the whole Cherry Ames book collection. Anyone remember those?? Cherry Ames student nurse, Cherry Ames Camp nurse etc.... Fascinating to re-read....
I have the entire set! Including the Cherry Ames FirstAid Book.
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
Hey we used bag balm on sore pts. bottoms and it worked until administration told us "it's not approved for human use" and made us quit using it (yea right
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
This wasn't from nurses, but it's health related, I remember when moms used to force you on your side once a week to get peroxide poured in your ear to "keep it clean" and it tickled and was annoying to listen to it bubble. We used peroxide on everything and the foaming on a cut showed how magically it was and was working so we should stop squirming. LOL This thread just made me think about that.
My mom used Q-tips!! Oh no! I'm told my eardrums are still intact. . . lol. The remedies our moms used are also an interesting topic. When I was little, she used mercurochrome painted on the cut. The color of it always fascinated me, (red-orange). Now that I'm thinking about it, was it mercury? Mixed with chromium?? :eek: Am I going to die? (j/k)
Standard treatment for any and all respiratory problems, a vaporizer with a glob of Vicks Vapo-Rub near the steam outlet, a card table on the bed covered with blankets to make a tent and concentrate the steam. I have no idea where she got the idea for that. It was kinda fun to have a little house on my bed though. :)
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Mixed with chromium??
nursedora
105 Posts
I do wonder if there is a club for those of us who collect vintage things of Nursing. I also have a collection of other "stuff" such as a tin band aide box, remember those, pre cardboard box? I had an enameled metal bed pan with measureing pitcher, in one of my moves, it got lost though. My text book was a Rosedal, Lipincott publisher, the blue cover iwth silver and white lettering, from the 80's. Some of the pictures in that one though! What a blast! I also have a Nursing cardiology book, and it tells how "you must keep the pts very still, as not to loosen the suction on the suction cups..." But the rythms are the same, and I'm using that book as an adjunct for learning my strips for ALS EMT.
My other name is "Dora the Explorer" much better than "Dumb Dora was so Dumb," "How Dumb was she?" I'd like to get a copy of that old movie with Nurse Dora. Another thing I like are old movies with the classic actors, Humphry Bogart, Katherin Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart...