Nursing in the Family (Introduction) by Geogre

I thought I’d tell you of my families involvement in nursing. I trained as a nurse back in the seventies. I’ll let you work out how old I am. I met my wife nursing and have two grownup daughters who are both nurses. Shortly my granddaughter will become a nurse. A lot has changed over the last 30 years. In my day you went to your local nurse training school today you go to university and get a degree.

The other big change is the camaraderie as all but gone. In my day you had little to offer patients other than comfort until they succumb to their illness. You needed relief and this was often got in the playing of practical jokes and “green horning” and “blue dressing” both forms of initiation. Even my daughters were green horned and had practical jokes played on them but there was a mighty big “thou shall not” hanging over them and if caught disciplinary action would be taken against every one including the poor victim.

I thought that you all might like to here of some of the events that happen to my wife and daughters. The accounts below I know sound extraordinary but are perfectly true. Certainly I have witnessed ice baths were underwear was removed first for the reasons stated. I have seen trolley rides with underwear on stirrups. I certainly can confirm with my own eyes one pubic shave. I know of others. Lastly, being stamped with “property of X hospital” in various private areas was common.