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

Boiled did you ever see/use the term haemademtia on notes for stroppy patients

God, imagine living above the ward, I wouldn't fancy that!
Though sometimes I imagine it could be handy. I'm half an hour away and often wish could just pop in to sort something out. I've had 4 phone calls about staffing problems this weekend.

Loved reading everyones memories. I trained 1984 -1987. Wore frilly hats, strarched aprons, collars and belts with white tights and white shoes. First years did fluids, 2nd years drips and obs ,in 3rd year you did your management. All the sisters were well known throughout the hospital and there were some wards everyone dreaded. Ward 3 and 4 and 19 and 20 ring any bells for anyone.

Brilliant thread. Really enjoying reading it.

Our dreaded ward was Scott and Twentyman,

Some fantastic memories here.

What did happen to bed cradles? I haven't seen one in years...

In response to those asking why is it so different now, this is my perspective having trained in the good old days (early 1990's for me) and now in a senior nursing post today:

Acuity of patients:
Admitted patients are far sicker today, people living longer with multiple complex medical issues.

Social issues:
Reliance on SS to deliver care that was traditionally performed by family members, not possible now as families live further apart, more WOMH etc

Drink and Drugs:
Massive problems. Go to any general medical ward up and down the country and I'll bet there will be a large number of patients with drug and drink problems. Very time consuming and mentally straining to care for: abusive and disruptive, high levels of theft on the ward, constant demands for methadone/valium etc.

Agenda for change pay scale system:
We did away with the traditional 'E' grade staff nurse, which you applied for having been qualified for say 18 months - 2 years. You needed to have completed your teaching qualification, mentored students, shown initiatve etc. If a position became vacant, you would apply. If successful, you got a pay rise and promotion. That is now gone. There is now no difference between the newly qualified nurse and the staff nurse qualified 10 years. Madness.

Removal of EN's and addition of HCA's:
EN's much more qualified and experienced. HCA's less so and therefore cheaper.

Internal Markets of the NHS:
Has removed the authority of Sister/Matron. In those roles in the past, if you wanted something for your ward, you got it. Today, because every department is cross charging, you cannot just snap your fingers. You have to argue the point across. Sadly, the things you need you do need them right now, to make a difference for the patient who is there at the time. Contracting out key services to private firms also influences this. No private cleaning company is going to keep up with the traditional ethos of the hospital.

I could go on and on and on....

The infection control team in my hospital encourages less glove use for things like washing patients changing beds etc. just for body fluids and dirty jobs. We still use proflavin soaked ribbon caused for packing on occasion.

Do you mean a Rota-Prone?

What about BIPP packing with Tilleys forceps for nose bleeds?

When you removed it was like one of those magic tricks where the magican keep's pulling bunting out of his jacket sleeve.

Oh marbeth, wards 3 &4, 19 & 20.(shock)

We lived in a terrifying Victorian building which was the nurses home as part of our psychiatric training. It had thick pipes running through it's vast length and you could speak to the nurse in the next room through the pipes.

One night, all the lights blew and we were petrified as someone kept knocking on our doors but nobody was there.
We all communicated to open our doors at the same time next knock and we all did. Nothing there.

One brave nurse finally discovered the culprit was a hamster in a plastic ball, merrily knocking against the doors.

I cried the night before going on the 'dreaded ward'.
I loved it - got my first Staff Nurse post there and my first Sister's post, starched collar and all!

bed cradles are still used
they fold up now

So pleased this thread keeps on going...I keep being reminded of other stuff! I lived in a very old nurses home, very old, and in the process of being condemned. Anyway it was 5 storeys of rooms, about 15 rooms per floor. When I lived there there were only about 4 occupied rooms per floor and a bit strange really (how my mother could bare to leave me there!) In the basement were laundry rooms and other store rooms, really really creepy.
Anyway apart from the main staircase there were some back stairs, which were only for use in a fire. So of course we used them all the time, but realised you could get up to the attic via them. Oh what an Alladins cave we discovered. Trunks labelled as such things as Student Nurse Jones and the set number she was in. Never repacked the trunk when they left. Loads of old and amazing furniture. Old uniforms. It was brilliant and slightly spooky

lifechanger Stryker Beds?

lifechanger -do you mean a stryker frame bed?

only used them for patients having rods on spine for scoliolis

My hospital had a specific flick you had to do with the bedspread sides. The London hospital flick! Think we spent ages learning how to do it. Wonder if it's still taught now. Not really life and death stuff!

2plus2 I knew it!! I thought you were a London hospital nurse from something you said before
I wonder if I know you....!

It was the uniform thing!

Set 490 if that's any help. Loved it their learnt so much it was a very professional training if you know what I mean. But a culture shock coming from a village in the west country!

I was 508. Having our 25 year reunion inOctober
After I qualified did a night relief job which was brilliant...really put me in at the deep end and meant I didn't specialise too soon. Then went back to my beloved Mile End and spent the rest of my hospital nursing career doing orthopaedics.

Oh yes and I know what you mean about culture shock...I had a sheltered village upbringing up north, but never went back. Fell in love with London and still there, though not Whitechapel...that's just a bit too gritty!

I was a 'Londoner' too!

Moved into Edith Cavell house, and then lived in Eva Luckes for a few years after that.

Remember wards such as Uppers, Cotton, Milward, Charrington etc?