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Subject:

Re: 'Thoroughly Modern Matrons'

From:

Mandy Brennan <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Occupational Health mailing list <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Wed, 23 Nov 2005 16:01:41 -0000

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (304 lines)

I haven't yet seen the programme Thoroughly Modern Matrons but have it
taped.
In reminiscing and to add my twopennorth I trained at St Thomas' hospital in
London in 1975 as an SRN and we had frilly lace caps, uniforms were fitted
and were designed by Norman Hartnell with starched aprons, belt and silver
buckle and red lined capes with black tights!  Makeup was minimal, hair tied
back or short and no jewellery, or tattoos.    I know it sounds over the top
these days but we looked good and it helped us feel confident (the belt made
us aware of our waistlines, you couldn't let your figure go)  We seemed to
have so much respect on and off the wards - I'd hope we earned it too.
Before the chaps jump on this there were two men on the course out of 70,
and they had to put up with jacket and trousers, no glamour in that!  They
may have worn tights...
I'm not sure if we respected our seniors or were terrified of them.  The
sluice was a refuge if you got shouted at.  I remember being told not to
stand around doing nothing but to go and talk to a patient if I had nothing
specific to do.  Patients were in for much longer than they are now and we
got to know them very well.  It was the days of 'total patient care'as a
nursing concept and we were encouraged to question why we did something.  We
learnt our practical nursing skills on each other so appreciated the
indignities of having to be cared for.  I think we scrubbed our hands at the
sink for two minutes, in between each patient.
I loved my training days as an eighteen year old but have to say that the OH
degree course as a mature student 25 years later made me focus on a wider
academic approach and that was equally satisfying and challenging to be a
university nursing student in my forties.
It concerns me that young people will not be attracted to nursing in the NHS
unless it is perceived as a rewarding and worthwhile career.  The main focus
in the media and government of health care and its delivery appears negative
and critical, and also I wonder if the degree status of nurse training puts
off many potentially good and caring nurses.  I come from a family of
generations of nursing back to 1900 and although I wasn't encouraged to go
into it I don't regret one day of it so far.

yours wistfully

Mandy Brennan  (nee Sims if there's anyone out there from the 1975 set)

-----Original Message-----
From: Twigger, Joan [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 17 November 2005 08:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 'Thoroughly Modern Matrons'


Hi Becky
 I am hooked as well. As a mature student on a pilot for project 2000 in
1988 I went through a similar course to the one you describe. Going out
on the wards was hairy as we were seen as "not real nurses". To give
myself credibility I choose to be assessed by my mentors in the old
style and can clearly remember getting to the end of the drug round and
failing miserably with my last patient.
On my first shift on a medical ward an IVAC bleeped so I went to the
office (Where the real nurses were) and was told to fix it ,when I
explained I had never seen one before let alone knew how to fix it ,I
was told as a second year student I should know everything.Even when I
explained I'd never seen a ill patient until that day! You can guess how
the rest of that placement went.
Yes I agree they should have put a mature student in the programmed I
think I coped better than some of my group because I was able to stand
up to all the negativity fired at us as the fist group who were
supernummery.I reason I got the best of both world during my training. I
was also known as the student who constantly asked "WHY" which made me
so popular the medical director told me that when I qualified I need not
bother applying to his department. So I told him (with respect) that if
he had the last job on the planet I would not apply. Could that be why I
am in the private sector do you think? One of the old style ward sisters
had problems with my hair which ,when she was on duty just went wild no
matter how much I tried to control it my cap would be all over the place
as soon as she came within 50 yards of me. Yet when they took away our
caps as a third year I was devastated (I agreed with the reasoning) but
was working so hard towards that blue stripe. So on the morning caps
were removed I kept mine until lunch so I was the last to give my
stripes away.Oh well happy day's.

J E Twigger
Occupational Health Advisor


-----Original Message-----
From: Becky [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 16 November 2005 20:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 'Thoroughly Modern Matrons'

Bob and all
Yes, i am watching the series 'Thoroughly Modern Matron'. When i trained
i was given the choice, P2K or 'proper nurse, as my group were the first
year of the P2K. i went for Project 2000 - as i quite liked the flat cap
and cape at the end......

The programme 'Thoroughly Modern Matrons' has me hooked.  I watch it,i
laugh,i cringe and at moments i have cried. What a bunch there!!!
However, i do wish they had picked a mature student to take part also. I
believe they would have looked at the tasks of time keeping, dicipline
and respect completely differently.
 It would have been interesting to see how a mature
student managed to get through the week.

Alot of what i was taught was the same as the 50's (or near enough).  We
used mercury thermomenters, mercury syphs, and I too was taught to make
a bed with the opening of the pillow case facing the opposite end of the
ward to that of the entrance, etc etc.  i was taught respect (which i
had already so i passed on that one easy peasy), discipline, clinical
techniques, note taking, history taking, nasal gastric tube and also the
Latin abbreviations (not only the letters,
but the meaning of them too!!) etc.

How do folks think that a mature student would have coped with the week?
What are your comments on the programme?  For those of you who have not
yet seen it, it is on BBC2 at 3.30pm.

Maybe you would like to comment on the fact that i am a sad anorack
watching such a programme.............
however, i do find it very interesting - and both young and mataure
students would benefit from watching it - in order to be thankful that
times change!!!

Becky :)
An 'antiquated' P2K nurse with the respect & discipline which matches
that of a 'proper nurse'.
(and many other skills also ..........)




--- Robert Dunn
<[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Hi Car, good to know that not all the useful things were thrown out
> with the modern teaching methods :0)
>
> Anyone watching the series 'Thoroughly Modern Matron' on BBC2 this
> week..........??
>
> Regards, Bob
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Car Barnes [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 16 November 2005 13:48
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Please tell me what PRN stands for.
>
> Hello Bob,
>
> As one of the dreaded "recent generation"  "P2000"
> RNs  I'd like to point
> out that we do venture onto the wards occasionally during training and

> have contact with patients and drug charts, and learn phrases like
> "bd, tds, qds"
> and "od" so it's not just the old style antiquated SRN training that
> taught such things  ;-)
>
> Car :-D
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Dunn
>
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>
> Sent: 16 November 2005 13:37
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Please tell me what PRN stands for.
>
>
> Hi Tracey,
>
> You are obviously from a recent nursing generation of RN's.
>
> Those of us who trained as SRN's had to learn all the prescribing
> abbreviations.  PRN is abbreviated Latin for: pro re nata (as the
> situation demands; as needed).
>
> Regards, Bob
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tracie McKelvie
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 16 November 2005 13:32
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Please tell me what PRN stands for.
>
> Please tell me what PRN stands for.
>
> Thanks
>
> Tracie Mckelvie
> Occupational Health Nurse / Adviser
> Pembrokeshire College
> Merlins Bridge
> Haverfordwest
> Pembs.
> SA61 1SZ
>
> TEL: 01437 753194
> FAX: 01437 767279
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
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