General Chat

Hi Ladies,
yes qualified as RN 2007 (age 43). Took up nursing after previous career in RAF Police.
Trained through Open University after working as HCA for 7 years.
Presently working on busy surgical ward in one of the biggest (alledgedly) teaching hospitals in the UK.

At the moment I am loving the job

TTFN
Pablo :-)))

Sorry Jean. I started my training in 1968 and don't remember this. I remember returning to work after having my sons and not knowing what 'nursing process' was. Things changed so quickly and still are to meet dreaded targets.
Di

Does anyone remember the pulsometer? I found mine by chance today when looking for something else. A half minute egg timer in a chrome case which you used to gauge the length of time to take a pulse. This was before having a watch was affordable for everyone and if you were very lucky you had one for your 21st. Jean

ME---I am a retired SRN as it was in my day, and proud of it been retired for 2 years now.
Things have changed a lot while I have been working.
Started at the end of 1959 had a couple of little breaks to have my boys and then worked until I was 64.

I started on the wards in 1951 as a nursing cadet, then bcame an army nurse student in 1953. I would do it all over again, but I dont think I would like the way nursing has changed, seems much less emphasis on patient contact and knowing your patients. Still know some people who I have either nursed their parents, children or themselves. We used to get such respect but that does not seem to be the case now. Jean

Me...I'm an RNMH (Registered Nurse for people wth Learning disability) Should say Mental handicap.... *Shudders*.... but I don't like saying those words.

I work with children with Special Needs.

I tried RMN but it wasn't for me. I trained to be a RNMH in 1990. Been doing this job since 1993. Can't believe its 15 years later.

Janet

I wore old uniform when I started , cuffs rolled up when attending to patients and down when going out of ward, hard belt too with studs, collar and white starched cap , hair above collar , black tights and sensible shoes, checked dress for first 18 months then striped, but it was at the change to white dressess so we used to pinch them from laundry to wear!!!
Ros xx

Hi when I retire in September I have taken up a training post as afrelanch NVQ Assessor. Also took a City and Guilds as a trainer in Health and Safety.

Still have my cape and for those who remember them frills and hard cuffs. Still retained my frilly cap. Flat pieve of white linen made up to 10 pleats--- impractical but I loved it. At least the patients knew who staff were ,by their uniforms.

Hi Jane
well done
I suppose i could work at the local hotel.......making beds !
But what good corners they would have !
Have a nice day
Joan x

Hi Joan

I am an office administrator come dogs body. That is I work in an office in a community centre and cover the coffee bar, creche and pre-school as needed, I even get to run the centre from time to time.

Nursing wise I can only work as a care assistant as I let my registration go. In that role I can only go in at level 1 as I do not have any NVQs in care.

Jane

Hiya Jane
What kind of jobs are there for ex-nurses now ?
I fancy a boarding house.
Joan

I'm here from the other thread.
Trained 82 to 85 RGN, then RSCN 94. Loved my training and proud of it. Now work in a private hospital where the wages are lower but moved because of single minded bureaucracy and a case of who you know not what you know ! Their loss not mine. Even went from full time to part time because realised I had a family who needed me. Now do two long shifts a week and extra if I want. And the parking is FREE.
Would do my training again the old way; still got the cape;ooops, should I have returned it ????
Best wishes Joan (having a dayoff) x

I am an EN. I trained about 1983 We were the last in take of EN's. Left nursing about 4 years ago when they shut the ward. Wouldn't want to go back as a trained nurse now.

Jane

well she sounds just like the kind of person to teach students !!!!
if she threw them at me id have thrown them back !!!
i worked for the nhs from late 70s till mid to late 80s

PS
when I was in England I worked with the ultimate one of the dreaded sisters who in all her glory threw a set of wrigleys forceps at a student one after the other like boomerangs
It was hilarious

Hee Hee I was one of those night sisters as well.
Managed to gain my notoriety when I turned 40 LOL .
I practise as an independant midwife now though

I started my training in 1963, still working as a Registered nurse 45 years later, due to retire in December.
What a life, what changes in nursing, I am still happy to care for my geriatric patients but sick of the paperwork which has evolved, leaving only minimal time for patients, because the paperwork must be up-to-date.
Sleep well dear Flo, and thank you for your contribution to nursing.
Mary

I'm general trained and worked a a midwife for the past 38 years!!!. I was one of those night sisters-- that everyone has a nick name for!!! retiring Sept 2008. If I had my way I would do it all over again. Loved especially SCBU and Delivery

those were the days eh ladies?! ; )...lol

I started my training in 1978 - 30 years ago!!!!! That was an an 'older' entrant i.e. not 18!

Jacky :-)