Any Nurses who trained in 1989 or before......I have a question for you..

[recall]

When you washed/helped to wash someone, did you wear gloves ?

I just happened to get some poo on my hand ( don't ask ) and I washed it off, but I couldn't get rid of the smell. I said to my friend "This takes me back, we used to use washing powder to get rid of the smell, Melena was the worse " She looked at me horrified. Was it just me should I have been wearing gloves ????? I remember wearing them when I was being assessed administering an enema, so I think we used to wear them for procedures, and blood stuff, but not for poo or sick etc.

Please put my mind at rest, I feel all wrong now

I have just remembered about a pt we had on a medical ward, she kept on biting thermometers in half and swallowing them, along with 20ps. One evening, she legged it, and we were all sent out to find her. I spotted her walking out of the entrance to the Hospital. I bombed up the road all out of puff and in the rain and dark and was shouting Margaret.....MARGARET, finally I caught up with her, and patted her shoulder, MARGARET....you've got to come back....

Wasn't her !! Poor woman !!

I remember Hycoline! Wasn't it dark green & had to be diluted?

Early days of the MR bugs, they suddenly decided that it was ineffective and we switched to liquid soap & water for cleaning everything down!

Smell of Fryers Balsam still takes me back to my first ward placement Dorcas the cardiac ward. Four hourly inhalations for all patients. Wrapping the gauze squares around the glass mouthpieces.

I think the uniforms the nursing staff wear now are much better than the dress (and hat) I wore. I know they look like pajamas, but i imagine the number of back injuries have lessened.

2plus2, your flasher story reminds me of care of the elderly and trying to fit catheter sheaths on elderly men, trying to get the tape stuck to skin not hair when there wasn't much skin available!

Worked on a children's plastics ward where students were banned by the consultant, only the Sister ignored his request. We were told never to speak to him. Only one day none of the staff nurses could answer his question (not blaming them) but as I could I spoke out, he thanked me but then asked who I was, he then asked what the belt I was wearing signified

I got a place to train at Gulys but decided that Cambridge was the place for me, otherwise UlrikaGarlic, we would have been there at the same time!

Gulys! Sorry that should read Guys

Pippi - The Horseshoe was off Snowfields, past Wolfsen House out that way, we used to go to the Miller of Mansfield too.

Eaglewings - How weird is that! I got a place at Addenbrookes too! I decided to go to Guys as it was easier to get back to my parents house!

Thanks Ulrika, racked my brains last night and remembered, iirc if was just passed the Catholic church? Miller was my local for my last few years at Guys.

Oh gawd this is a trip down memory lane, The Horseshoe, the Miller, Wolfson House sob

I can remember the days when patients were allowed to smoke in bed on the orthapaedic ward I did a stint on.
One man who was in traction, got fed up with waiting for his weights to be reduced so burned through the nylon rope.
Interesting evacuation.

I wish all you lot, or even just one of you, was nursing in the hospital where my mum is currently a patient. She herself trained in the late 50's, became a sister and finally a matron.

Ironically she in the hospital now where she spent most of her career. And I won't bore you with the details, but for example, the night before last, she wet/soiled herself THREE times because she is immobile and nobody answered her buzzer.

I take my hats off to most nurses, I really do, I think they're undervalued and underpaid, but I'm discovering at a rate of knots that there are plenty around who should be ashamed to call themselves "nurse".

Thank you to all of you who have cared and who still do.

barrystar

And THAT barrystar is why I haven't returned to nursing.

Very sorry to hear that Barrystar, I hope you've made a complaint.
Thank goodness there's lots of us nurses that care still around.

Thanks for sympathies. I haven't complained yet because she doesn't want me to as she feels so vulnerable. I will do though.

Anyway, don't want to derail this mostly lovely thread! I'm enjoying the stroll down memory lane too.

Barrystar - I know your mother feels like she is held to ransom and shouldn't complain but PLEASE do. Speak to the sister or matron on her behalf.
I am appalled.

Cases like your mums is the reason I now nurse in the community. Trying to manage crap staff is something I am not up to I am afraid....too stressfull.

I hear some awful tales from patients discharged from hospital and see the pressure sores as well and I do encourage them/families to complain.

There are still great nurses around .

Anyone train at Southampton in the 80's...sister coulthard!?

Ahem pippi at Tommy's being snobby

It was not!

Anyone else from Thomas's here?

Tommy's not snobby?
Come on!
I was on the other side of the river at the Royal Free. I remember Gassiot house and Riddell House at Tommy's though.

Def not snobby!

I lived in both Riddell and Gassiot. Great view from Gassiot, but Big Ben used to wake us up every 15 mins until we got used to it.

I remember that the application for Tommys asked you for your father's occupation (no other hospital did!). He worked for the Gas Board - I didn't get in!!!!

Yep Pippi me too-dads a butcher.

There used to be a saying "Tommy's for Wives, & Guys for nurses"

The admissions list for new nurses was full of "lady this" & "right hon" that!

That said I went on secondment there for 2 weeks & despite some being frightfully posh they were all lovely to work with. Never forgave the powers that be for amalgamating us though!

Smoking - yes had forgotten how acceptable that was just 25 years ago. I can remember taking patients to the day room for a ciggie. The staff used to smoke in the office . In this day and age it seems amazing that this was ever acceptable but it was. I can remember one old lady who had dementia and used to shriek Nuuuuuurrrssse all day but who loved coming into the office for a fag with the staff.

Disclaimer- I have NEVER smoked.