STAFF NURSE AT LAST

My certification

Our State Registered qualification was only obtained by passing a day’s written examination and a day of practical work at the end of three years under strict observation. I think the wait for my results was the longest of my life and I can recall a friend bringing my letter over from the Nurses Home to the ward where I was working. I can remember feeling the envelope as I had been told it would be thin if I passed and thick if I needed to re-apply! 

The relief to find It was thin and that I was now a qualified state registered nurse was almost too much to bear but the joy and realisation of my achievement soon took over and the knowing that I had many more years ahead of me to do the work that I loved so much. My feet hardly touched the ward floor all morning and what a thrill I had to receive the largest bouquet of flowers ever seen from all my patients with their congratulations.

My well worn Hospital badge

We then had to attend a presentation ceremony to receive our coveted Certificate and badge. I was so proud that my best friend Sally won the Gold Medal for our year but very sad in later years to learn that after having had such a successful career she became so psychologically distressed that she committed suicide at Beachy Head

As I was working on the male orthopaedic ward at the Royal East Sussex Hospital Hastings at the time I received my registration I was offered a post of Staff Nurse there which was a great help as I already knew the patients and procedures well. I just had to get used to organising and giving orders which I did find difficult after three years of receiving them?

Paitents who required my paitence!

Orthopaedic nursing is a little different than other acute work because once the patient had received their operation for what- ever bone related problem they were suffering from, during their recovery period apart from their immobility they felt fairly well so boredom and pranks were the order of the day especially when they knew Matron was due for her rounds!.  Ward four was a long room with parquet flooring and had beds down both sides but on Friday afternoons we would have to put up extra beds down the middle to accommodate all the motor cycle injuries that used to be admitted every week-end.