Nursing School Surprises

When I, as a man, first walked into LPN class, I noticed three strange items at the end of the room. I believe they were called "hospital beds". As I was totally ignorant of what a nurse did (beside running around and saving lives, of course) this came as quite a shock to me. At a later point in time, the instructor said something to us that was quite valuable to me. She said," Those of you who have been working in the nursing field are at a disadvantage; you have to unlearn, then relearn correctly. Those of you who have never worked in the nursing field are starting fresh." I was fresh.

There were anatomy models and charts at the front of the room; but, for the life of me, I didn't know why the beds were there. I don't mean any disrespect but didn't nurses aides and orderlies take care of that {there were no CNA's in the '70's)? I made a rather wise decision and didn't ask anyone about the beds. As I looked closer, there were bedpan's, wash basins, these funky looking things I later learned were emesis basins.

The instructor entered the room and made herself known. She made us aware that we were SPN's or student practical nurses for the next 12 months, and we would spend the next three months, six hours a day in this room. In other words, we couldn't touch a patient until we learned which end of the thermometer was the business end. I wish to take this time to say; that, I hope somewhere down the hills and valleys of the road of life, you find a teacher, or a mentor, that meant as much to you as my nursing teacher. In 12 months, she taught me more than a passel of teachers couldn't teach me in 12 years. Enough said...here's to you, Mattie. You made me a good nurse, and a good person.

We did study those anatomy charts and forms of skulls and such; but then came the day. My manhood, locked in a classroom, no less, came to challenge. I had to learn how to change a bed with perfectly mitered corners...then I had to learn to change a bed with one of my male classmates in it. Glory be, was there no shame. I hadn't even touched shame, yet. The wash basins were there for a reason. We had to learn how to give a bed bath on a classmate...male, no less. Fortunately there was a stopping point. Teacher said we would learn the rest in the real world.

Some of the other things we did that I didn't expect, was: How to walk a patient; how to let a patient fall to the floor without causing injury; how to help a patient with multiple tubing get in and out of the bed. With every exercise, humility went with it. Yes, I was doing things I never dreamed of; but, it was helping people. At times, it was helping people help themselves. That was some of the first things we learned in nursing school...back in the day.