Nursing in the Family (Wife's Medical) by George

My wife, Beth, had a hard time as a student nurse, which didn’t get much better when she qualified. She entered training just before her 18th birthday. She was in those days very petite, 5ft 4inches, weighed about 8st 6lbs. She has light black hair not the raven type. She was in those days’ 34b bra size, 28-inch waist, and 30 inch hips; a bit top heavy but the boys liked that apparently. Her personality is what I think they call haughty, she as a superiority about her. This mixed with her perfectionism, she just can’t leave things alone until they are absolutely right by her own overly high standards. This just seems to make people dislike her or at least be very irritated by her. When she was younger she didn’t have the social grace she as now, so she tended to easily offended people when she thought she was giving constructive criticism. This seemed to make her victim prone when it came to pranks.

She trained at a hospital in the North East of England, Newcastle area (I will say no more) and entered training in 1964 some six years a head of me. The hospital was a sprawling collection of decaying Victorian red brick buildings; with wooden framed buildings put up between the wars, and post World War II prefabricated buildings. The nurses residence was in one of these post war prefabricated buildings and the main hospital wards where in the four large Victorian red brick buildings. The buildings where joined by various covered and uncovered pedestrian ways, as well as driveways for vehicles. Small car parks which where always over subscribed were augmented by street parking, there where plenty of pockets of grass and bushes, as well as fences small and large. The hospital had many gates and barriers some which where always locked, some always open, and some open during day light hours only.

The residence blocks where all the same. One central keypad controlled door allowed access to six units. Two units on each of three floors ground, first and second. Each unit had four bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bathroom, plus a large storage cupboard that housed electric and gas meters. My wife’s unit was in the furthest away block from the drive near the railed fence that was open to what was a main pedestrian approach to the hospital from the bus station during the day. She was on the top floor in a room that overlooked the side gate that was normally always open allowing family to come and go in an emergency.

Beth, my wife, was from a village that was just outside of Newcastle in those days; today it’s part of the urban city. She arrived alone by bus carrying a single suitcase. She was greeted off the bus by a formidable older woman carrying a clipboard and decked out in full nurses uniform and cape. She called herself Senior Nursing Sister. There were already two other raw recruits waiting with her from an earlier bus. They introduced themselves as Margaret, and Eileen. Slowly other buses from far off destination (reach by metro in 10 to 15 minutes these days) deposited travel weary recruits, all looking like lambs to the slaughter. The senior nursing sister checked them off on her clipboard then said simply, “Follow me”. She headed off up the hill to the hospital the recruits each carrying their one allowed suitcase followed along behind. Their chatter was stopped by a “No chattering, nurses do not chatter in public” from the senior nursing sister at their head. You may think such an admonishment out of place, a bit school like. Well nursing schools where schools in those days. The sixties didn’t hit nursing until the seventies. There was however a very good practical reason for this admonishment. I have often heard more recently trained nurses talking in public about patients and ward business. The simple no chatting rule avoided this problem. You may not have liked the autocratic rule bound system, but each rule originated from some logic, the trouble was often the reason for the rule had long since disappeared but the rule was the rule and it was followed no matter how absurdly.

Beth and the other recruits where herded (Beth’s say that “herded” is definitely the right adjective) into a school hall. I think older UK readers will be familiar with what I am about to describe. It was one of those high vaulted ceiling halls. It had one of those highly polished block wood floors arranged in a herringbone patten that if you weren’t careful you slipped and slid on. It had windows that went from about your shoulder height to the start of the ceiling vaulting. The window was divided into little square panes. The very top of the window could be opened for ventilation by puling on metal chains at the side. Large blackout curtains draped the side of each window that could be drawn by pulling on thick cords. On the walls between each window was an old fashion radiator, there where old even in 1964. To the front was a stage.

The girls where told to set their suitcases down and take a seat at the front. There where two rows of chairs near the front in an otherwise empty hall. The remaining chairs except for a row set out on the stage where all stacked at the back of the deep stage. Each row contained 15 chairs and a nubile new bum filled each. They sat and waited for who knew what. They sat in silence as Beth did, or talked in a low whisper. When their whispers got above a certain threshold senior nursing sister would scowl at the offenders and put her finger to her lips. This would have the offenders shrug their shoulders and smile, but would fall silent not wishing to test the bounds or patience of this formidable foe on their first day.

A door opened stage left and the sound of a herd of ants marching in time filled the hall bouncing off the dully-painted walls, much in need of a new coat. Senior nursing sister signal for the girls to stand, which they did in a higglty-pigglty fashion. Slowly a line of formidable matriarchal women appeared one at a time. The leader walked to the front of the stage the others took up a position in front of a seat. Silence fell, the women in front of the seats sat down together. The senior nursing sister signaled the girls to sit.

The woman at the front introduced herself as the Matron Responsible for the Nursing School and by holding that position was responsible for each and every one of them. She would not only be responsible for ensuring that they achieved the highest heights as nurses but also as moral upstanding women. She said the key to their success on both grounds was discipline. She said that the women behind her who where either training sisters or ward sisters would assist her in the difficult task that lay ahead. The girls were to give them their unquestioning loyalty and respect. And so the speech went on, and on, and on (that’s enough “and ons” dear). She turned eventually to practical matters a brief outline of the coming weeks timetable, the timetable for the next three years of training. Each of the training sisters where introduced and each read out a short list of names. The names on the list where responded to by the appropriate young woman putting up her hand. These were to be the recruits mentors/personal tutors.

This was followed by a tour of the hospital, the recruits where split into three groups. It was taken at a brisk pace. After five minutes Beth said she just stopped trying to take it in. She’d never remember what was here, never mind where it was. Most places she didn’t even know what they where. The only thing she took notice of was when the sister guiding them pointed out the school building. She’d been only once before for her interview but that was months ago. One girl asked where the residence was and was told that she’d be shown there on their return to the hall. The tour took some 40 minutes in the February cold. The sister saying that it just covered the key places they needed to know in their first few weeks. There where some looks of, “Oh my God”.

On returning to the hall some younger women in uniform where waiting on their return. These where third year student nurses. They where collectively affectionately know as “Mothers”. This was because their job was to look after the new recruits within each of the residences. They to had lists that they read from. Beth found herself this time with suitcase. Tagging along behind the third year and three other girls has they where led on a twisting and turning route, in and out of buildings to the nurses residence. Each group seemed to go its own way which was strange Beth thought since now they where all on one or other of the paths which crisscrossed the residences lawnned areas.

On entry to the residence, via a key and punch lock, each girl was introduced to a unit companion. Beth’s unit companion introduced herself as Kate who was a first year in the in-take ahead of her. Kate said for Beth to ask her anything, and she’d be pleased to help. She speedily took Beth off up the stairs to the top floor. Kate said that there was a meal prepared for her and that she could share her breakfast things tomorrow. The girls would be given time off tomorrow afternoon to go into town to get what they needed. Kate said that you could also use the nurses dinning room; you had an amount deducted from your pay each month to cover the cost. Once inside the unit Beth was shown her room and introduced to the senior resident of that unit, a third year girl called Victoria. The other unit occupant Pamela was a second year but she was on duty. Tiered out Beth retired early after having a bath, not forgetting to set her alarm clock first. Punctuality was next to discipline in matron’s dictionary.

The next morning Beth was up bright and early and with a brief explanation of the best route to the nursing school from Kate, found it along with most of the others. There where a few stragglers who swore they’d been misdirected by their senior unit residents. Their day started with a long lecture on morals, ethics, deportment, and decorum. After which they could have a well-earned tea break. They’d been told that after break they’d be split into too groups. One group would have their medical while the other was being fitted for their uniforms. Beth who was genuinely shy in those days didn’t expect that. They’d had to bring a form to interview signed by their GP. Beth thought that was that. Beth’s group was to have their medical first.

They where led off from the school by one of the training sisters. Another long walk at break neck speed along twisting and turning corridors, in and out of builds, up and down flights of stairs. They arrived in a small room much like the hall, the sought of room you get in Victorian chapels to hold small meetings in. It was entered from along a small corridor. On each side of the corridor was a series of smaller rooms partitioned off from one another by a wall to the side, and back, but a curtain that was drawn open to the front. In each but the end one on each side was a torture table as Beth became fond of calling them. They were gynecological tables that allowed the attachment of various devices to aid access to a woman’s various orifices. The end cubicles had a desk and chair, a chair for a patient to sit on, a pair of mechanical scales, a dressings table with various small instruments on, and the paraphernalia for drawing blood.

On entering the room which itself was screened from the corridor by a thick curtain (to drown out the screams, Beth says) the sister said quite matter-of-factually “Remove your clothes and have a seat the doctors and I will be ready for you shortly” and before anyone could clarify her instructions she drew the curtain and was gone. The 15 girls all stood around and looked at each other. It was a Scottish girl who voiced the questions that was in all their minds, “How far do you think we are to go?” she said. A local girl from her well eloquent but local accent that Beth was later to get on with quite well called Sophie answered first. “Well I think she just means to our slips”. “Well when my mum says take your clothes off she means, take your clothes off,” a definite local and very common sounding girl said. “Well it won’t be long around here before you’ll find yourself further than your slip if my mother is right” another local girl said. “What do you mean?” Sophie said. “Well you not heard about the green-hornings love?” the common girl said. “What?” a chorus said. “It’s where they officially welcome you as a nurse by dunking you into a freezing cold bath sans clothing” the original girl said. This created another chorus of “What’s?” by even more girls Beth included.

The girls started to undress. I won’t go into detailed step-by-step accounts for each girl, time as obscured that from us, and re-counting what details Beth can fabricate from her shattered memory would take to long and to much space. What is etched on to Beth’s memory is the final status that they found themselves in sitting on the little wooden chairs. Sophie was sitting in her slip, Beth could see stockings and suspenders through the slip, and underneath its top part was a bra of ample proportions. The rough common girl and what appeared to be her two friends had stopped short of going all the way and where sat in bra and panties. Having dispensed with slips, tights, shoes to be bare legged. Beth had stripped to her bra, panties, and stockings; she’d removed the belt figuring that the doctor may want to palpate her abdomen, which her GP had done once or twice when she was younger and had tummy pains. The others were in similar states of undress.

They sat down on the hard and now suddenly chilly wooden chairs and waited, and sat, and sat, and waited. One girl now asked if the other girl had made up the story about being dunked in a cold bath. “No!” said the girl who’d spillt the beans so to speak. Another girl said that her mother had been a nurse during the war. She’d told her to expect being dunked to. The girls wanted to clarify the naked bit. Other girls nodded back to them and there was some genuine shock. Just at this sister reappears. “What’s up ladies, I said, get undressed. There’s no false modesty around here, we are all women,” the sister said. The girls all looked around wondering if they heard right. Seeing the bundle of garments over sisters arm Beth reasoned that these were some kind of examination gowns and sister was serious about the no clothes. The girls now started to once more undress, very shortly Beth stood as naked as the day she was born doing her best to cover her breasts and pubic area along with the other 14 girls. Beth says stood there like that seemed to some how accentuate her own nakedness. She’d often been naked in front of other girls at gym class or swimming but you where all busy dressing or undressing, you saw and were seen but you never looked or were looked upon. Here you where being looked at by 14 other women, you like them couldn’t help but look. You where caught in some bizarre surreal torture. Sister in turn looked each girl up and down and handed her a gown. They were the type that has an open back and a cord at the neck. Each girl quickly took the slowly offer gown and covered her dignity. The sister seeming to enjoy their obvious discomfort as Beth thought at the time but realized later that it was actually dispassionate disinterest, the sister could no more care about their feelings then that of a piece of meet strung up in a butchers shop. Each girl offered her colleague what little care she could by fastening the neck tie of the smock as the gown was correctly called.

They gathered the smocks under their now naked bottoms as best they could and sat back down on the hard and now somewhat seemingly chillier wooden chairs. Sister had disappeared again. Suddenly in the distance they could hear that march of ants. It grew ominously closer. Suddenly the sound of leather turning sharply on a polished floor echoed down the little corridor and into the large waiting room. Sister emerged into the room with a staff nurse and a couple of auxiliary nurses at her side.

“Right you six first” she said pointing to the first six girls to her left, which started with Beth and ended with Sophie. They were shown through into the two cubicles without examination tables three to each cubicle. Beth was seated at the chair next to the desk and the auxiliary took the chair at the desk. The auxiliary started to ask her loads of questions whilst the other two where measured by sister. Their height was taken, then their weight, then their blood pressure, and so on until everything had been measured. Then one of the girls was sat at the little dressing trolley and the other sent back to wait on the wooden seats. Then another girl was called from the waiting room and she and Beth where subjected to the measurement. As Beth stood on the scales her bottom not really covered she heard a male voice say, “Sorry I’m late sister. Have you the cards”. Beth said she froze, she’d expected a male doctor, as they weren’t many females in those days. But she hadn’t been expecting to be well nearly naked. She reached behind to pull the smock closed. “Yes on the desk doctor”. “Good, Jane Anderson” he called out. The girl sitting at the dressing trolley said, “Yes” and he approached her and began to prepare to draw blood. Sister carried on with Beth’s measurements and when done she was sent back to the waiting room. Sophie joined her and now sat next to her after moving the original girls clothes along.

“I hate doctors don’t you” Sophie said. “Yes,” said Beth. “These smocks don’t cover much at the back I could see your derriere when you where on the scales and so could that doctor” Sophie said. Beth blushed a little. They started to chat about families and home. They became aware of another doctor being around somewhere and had this confirmed when Jane Anderson and Mary Baxter, first girls alphabetically eventually re-entered the waiting room. They looked a little nonplussed, after regaining their composure and the other girls checking they where all right they quickly with some prevarication filled the girls in on their ordeal. They had for the first times in their lives had a full gynecological examination. Beth knew about these and expected that one day when she was with child that she might have to have one but she’d not expected one that day.

Girls were coming and going. Some seemed to think that the examination wasn’t anything to be bothered about. Then they realized that there was two doctors, a older one who seemed quite nice by the brief accounts of the girls who had him, and a younger one who seemed not nice at all. The younger one seemed to be getting through the girls faster. Sophie was called; Young was her surname Beth being a Walker wondered if there was anyone else before her. By now some of the girls where beginning to dress ready to leave. Sophie re-appeared, “It’s okay… (The voice of the doctor called over her “Elizabeth Walker”). “It’s okay its just blood” Sophie finished the good news she’d started to tell Beth.

Beth stood, ensured that there wasn’t a gaping hole in her smock and walked back into the first cubicle making sure she did not present her bottom to the doctor and sat down besides the dressing trolley. The doctor confirmed her name and explained the procedure to her. Beth had had blood taken before, not the most pleasantest experience but quite bearable. Once she was done she walked back to the waiting area to sit with Sophie nervously twiddling her thumbs, as was Sophie. “If you get the horrible one I’ll pray for you” she said. Beth took and held her hand, “I’ll be praying for both of us,” Beth said. In that moment she’d made her first true friend.

The waiting room was now thinning out. Two more of the girls were called R’s and T’s. This left Sophie and Beth being the last two still sitting in smocks. The common girl and Scottish girl where stood naked on the other side of the room having just discard the smocks to dress. Soon these two where dressed and leaving as the an other two girls came back. One looking a little flustered, she’d had the younger doctor. “Well I’ll be off now sister” a male voice said. “Thank you doctor” sister called back. Sophie new she was next and that it was likely that she was going to get the younger doctor but the voice had given them both some hope, very false hope as it turned out.

They sat alone together apart from the girl dressing for what seemed like ages. Then the other girl came back and joined the other girl who was now just finishing dressing. “Sophie Young and Elizabeth Walker please” a male voice called. They both looked at each other.

They both slowly stood and checking the concealment of their bottoms walked out of the waiting room and up the corridor. Beth led the way. A young doctor, who Beth thought was very dashing appeared out of one of the cubicles to the left. Beth wonder why the other girls where so distressed by this guy. He smiled nicely at them and said. “Sophie Young” “That’s me,” said Sophie. “In here please the young doctor said. “Elizabeth Walker” he said looking at Beth in a jaunty manner. Beth smiled and the young doctor indicated a cubicle for her. Beth turned into the cubicle opposite her friend. A nursing auxiliary was busy preparing the exam table. She straightens up and turned around.

“Hello dear. Pop your gown off (Simultaneously the doctor is saying to Sophie, “Take your smock off and climb up here nurse will watch you both together from the corridor”) and climb up here. I’m going to have to chaperone both of you together”. She said.

Beth felt immediately uneasy about this. But what could she do. It was the liberated sixties but she’d been brought up in the fifties by very strict parents who where obedient to the Queen, Pope, or anyone else in authority. It wasn’t the place to cause a scene or a fuss. It was one of those situations were she’d just have to grin and bear it. (I know I hate the pun too). She heard Sophie say something then the doctor reply, “I am a doctor, I’ve seen it all before” Beth came to really hate that line. She then heard Sophie pull the cord of the gown and it slip from her body. “You can put it on the chair my dear” the auxiliary said. Beth looked over to Sophie and saw that she was indeed naked back to the opening bending slightly; Beth saw her beautifully smooth bottom. “Come on love catch up” the auxiliary said. Beth reached behind and pulled her cord and then pulled off the gown the auxiliary stood and watched her then nodded in appreciation of the sight. That really made Beth very uncomfortable, that a woman had noticed her body in that way. She was use to the boys in the village looking at her like that but not another woman. She passed the auxiliary the smock and she took it and put it on the chair. She turned to the table and saw that Sophie was laid out on the table completely naked. The doctor was examining her breasts. Beth climbed up on to the table and the auxiliary moved her down the table a bit. Then the most humiliating bit of all she lifted first Beth’s right leg up into a stirrup, exposing Beth’s vagina to herself, then she moved around the table and lifted her left leg into the stirrup. Beth was totally exposed she said no woman had ever seen her like that, this woman was looking, but she knew that shortly the young male over the way would see all. The auxiliary then came and stood between the stirrups and pulled Beth further down so her bottom was at the edge of the table. This caused Beth deep humiliation her vagina lips instantly fell open and her anus relaxed. This is of course why we use this position it affords good access. The other thing with this position is, because your hips are now forward of your knees and ankles which are raised above you it’s completely impossible for you to get yourself free without great effort and causing yourself injury and great pain.

Beth laid like that while the Auxiliary crossed over to the other cubicle. The doctor was finishing off examining Sophie’s chest with his stethoscope. Beth couldn’t see properly in her position. “Okay nurse help Miss Young into the stirrups whilst I exam Miss Walker” the doctor said. Beth heard Sophie move on the table and then saw her head; she’d sat up, and was looking with real puzzlement and horror on her face over at Beth’s naked body so obscenely displayed.

The doctor crossing over now blocked her view. “Right then let’s start with your breasts. Just a quick check for any lumps or unusual skin feel (The doctor started to feel Beth’s left breast she just laid there absolutely still and quietly dying many deaths in side. No man had ever seen her breasts never mind touched one). No that one seems all right, now this one (The doctor was pawing and squeezing them quite hard, Beth screwed up her face and began the sinners prayer in her head making sure God knew it was for her and Sophie opposite) yes that one seems find.” The doctor seemed to be satisfied with that part of the exam.

He now took his stethoscope from around his neck. He listened to Beth’s heart in a few different locations including the apex beat that required him to move her breast feeling it once more. Then he checked her breathing the usual “Breath in, and breath out, again please”. He then palpated her abdomen but what had Beth trying desperately to sit up and say something if only she could have found the words was that he’d touched her thick black pubic hair. She couldn’t see what medical reason there was for that. She now felt like crying and realized why the girls that had been to him where so distressed. It wasn’t his indifference he was well enjoying their obvious suffering and inability to do anything about it.

“Right now for your internals” he said. Beth now found her voice. There’s nothing wrong with me I don’t need that” she said. “Well let me be the doctor. Just two days in the job and she thinks she can tell if she’s fit and well” he sorted and the auxiliary laughed with him. Beth heard the snap of the rubber gloves and then a pop. Next she felt the tip of a swab on her urethra opening. “Just to make sure there’s no nasty germs down here,” the doctor said. There was then another swab around her vagina lips. Then she heard a sucking noise. Next she felt something at her opening then deep inside. She said he was very expert, she didn’t feel him enter her, just the movement of his fingers once he was in side. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as she imaging it would be; She says that she thought the distress of the other girls must have been because it hurt. She now realized that it was because they where naked and treated like just a piece of meet this time for his desire and fun. His finger had been out a while before she realized it. Then there was the popping noise again and another swab at her anus. Beth says the really madding thing was that she couldn’t see it coming. Next she suddenly had a sharp intake of breath. Something had just gone up her bum. She realized after a few short seconds when she opened her eyes again that it was his finger. He moved it around then pulled it out. “That’s all fine down there. You can clean her and sit her up now,” he said to the auxiliary. “Are you done with her doctor’ the auxiliary asked. “No I need to sound her chest from the back, then she can go”.

The auxiliary came across the room having put poor Sophie into stirrups. Beth heard her puling some paper towel off a roll. “Here you are give yourself a good wipe first” the auxiliary said. Beth cleaned herself down below but has she removed her hand she felt another piece of paper touch her. ‘What?” Beth said trying to sit up but the pain in her legs stopped her. “Just relax my dear, just giving you a good clean so you don’t drip’ the auxiliary said wiping Beth’s private area. Beth says this was the first time even a woman had touched her down there and it didn’t feel a nice touch, if you know what I mean. The auxiliary now helped her out of the stirrups. Beth had been aware of Sophie’s exam continuing but couldn’t see anything but now she was sat up the sight that met her eyes was awesome in many ways.

Sophie’s vagina was fully displayed. She could see right into it. It was glistening not from any arousal. Beth says that type of exam wouldn’t arouse any woman. But from the jelly he’d used to put his fingers in. Right at the moment that Beth looked he had just finished twisting them around inside and was pulling them out. She looked at poor Sophie she tried hard to see her face and smile reassuringly at her but the doctor was in the way a bit at the side. He now returned to Sophie and slipped a finger into her bottom Sophie gasped but remained otherwise silent. “Okay that’s all fine’ said the doctor and then pulled his finger out. “You can clean her up now nurse, I’ll need to sound her chest before she goes’.

He came back over to Beth. ‘Okay for your chest (he took the stethoscope from around his neck again) breath in, and out, again, once more” he said as he moved the cold stethoscope around her back. He was stood to her side looking down has he listened. He could see her breasts and thick black bush. It made Beth uneasy and she covered them. She was watching the auxiliary nurse releasing Sophie. Sophie she discovered was a true blonde. “Okay you can go,” he said to Beth. Beth was so surprised that he was done and she could go that she sat motionless for a few seconds. “Okay, off you go” he repeated. Beth slipped of the table and was across the fresh hold before the doctor said calling her to a halt and back, “Aren’t you forgetting this, we can’t have you running around like that you’ll get your death of cold”. She took the smock from him and clutched it to her chest. She didn’t bother to put it on but walked back to the waiting room that was now empty. She sat down and just waited tears in her eyes. She was still like that some minutes later when Sophie returned she too just clutching her smock to her otherwise naked body. She sat next to Beth.

“That was awful” Sophie said. Beth turned and looked at her and could see her tears of relief. Beth just nodded. “That was the first time any man or woman as seen me like that, and touched me like that” Sophie said. Beth smiled, “For me too it was so humiliating”, and smiled again at Sophie. “We survived, I think it was all my prayers”. “I prayer too” Beth said.

“Come on you two. I’ve not got all day” sister said suddenly appearing at the entrance making both girls jump. “I don’t know sitting around half naked”. The girls looked at each other and burst out laughing. They dressed and hurriedly joined the other girls waiting down stairs in the building’s entrance to go and get measured for their uniform. On the way out they looked down another short corridor as they past. They could see into another waiting room with girls sat in smocks, the other half of their intake.