Miss Marchant always seemed very old to me and the first time we met I was mesmerised by the lace bonnet she wore on her head which was kept on by a bow on elastic under her chin and every time she spoke the bow wobbled up and down.
After a lengthy inquisition with her and a medical examination by the staff Doctor to determine my physical fitness I was given a place in the January Preliminary Training School of Nursing (PTS) for three months intensive training and lectures.
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| Royal East Sussex Hospital (old) |
I undertook this training on the understanding that I could only go on to do my three year State Registered Nurse training if I passed the necessary examination at the end of my initial three months.
With a lot of reading and reference work I did succeed in doing this first time but it was not easy returning to the class room after six years.
The next three years of student life working in the three hospitals which catered for maternity, Gynaecology, orthopaedics, general surgery, ophthalmic, Urology, General medicine and paediatrics was indeed very strenuous. It was very hard work keeping up with the lectures and educational work as well as hands on duties on the wards but so very interesting. Our Matron Miss Marchant had to be the strictest Matron of all time but I really respected her I am so indebted to her for giving me the chance to prove that I could be more than a shop assistant and helping me to find my real niche in the nursing profession. At the end of one year we had a preliminary examination to undertake before we could go on to our second year of training, if we passed we had a blue striped belt. We then had another examination at the end of our second year and on passing that got our black belt.
STAFF NURSE AT LAST (Group Photo)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!
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| SRN Cert after of 3 years training |
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.
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