Book of Nurses 2013: Catherine.

Catherine is a community nurse working with young people in a high school setting in a primary health role. She is one of only 5 School Youth Health Nurses in Canberra, Australia. 30 yrs ago I pinned on my brand spanking new nurses watch and began the career of a lifetime. It is an old fashioned one that you have to wind every day. I always knew I wanted to be a nurse – don’t really know why but have always loved the smell of hospitals ( weird huh ). My mum gave me two bits of advice- always wear support stockings and have proper, good fitting shoes. In those days, sheer relief pantyhose and Halls Orthopaedic shoes were the bomb and then I couldn’t wait to get me some of those navy blue hush puppies with the orange innersoles. My very first ward after PTS was Geriatrics. It was here that I learnt how to provide really good basic nursing care, how to treat people with dignity and that every patient has their own life story. I loved hearing their stories and learnt soo much from the fabulous nurses on that ward. Thirty years have also delivered some incredible life lessons. This is my top 7. Best thing to do when an alcoholic patient starts throwing his shit at you is to duck! Blood on the floor is slippery! And once you have smelt Malena, rotavirus, burnt flesh or gangrenous legs you can recognise that smell in an instant. They tell you when you start nursing school that you have to maintain professional distance. I’m admit that at times I have crossed...
Source: impactEDnurse - Category: Nurses Authors: Tags: ectopics Source Type: blogs