ProNurse

By the way, I hate these new nurses with their inflated egos. In my degree group of 18 people (yes, I am BScN) about half were bound for management & the other half were bound for teaching. In short, they wanted to get away from the hands-on. They were doing their degrees to get away from the wards - is it any surprise that these are the same people (or kind of people) who denigate the ART of nursing are the ones who designed "new nursing" We aren't doctors because we bring something different to the clinical environment. The time & motion experts can go hang - I will hold my dying patient's hand if that's what they want & anyone who tries to tell me differently can stick it - I AM A NURSE; that's what I am, not what I do!!!!

My book, "Of Sluices and Sisters: Anecdotes of Student Nurses at a London Teaching Hospital" (Has anyone out there read it yet?) graphically describes the style of training that Mo is talking about. We did 44hours on the ward for 3 years, followed by a year's staffing. Yes, we did have to clean and run errands for the Ward Sister - something which would probably cause modern day nurses to riot - but I always welcomed a few minutes respite from the intensity of the ward, and never objected to doing these tasks which did nothing to detract from our training, and were seen as necessary for the smooth running of the hospital. Strangely, unlike modern nurses, we were in awe of the old-school nurses of those days and we had tremendous respect for their depth of knowledge and consummate nursing skills. Of course we were not trained in the high tech style of nursing of today, - it just did not exist - there were no computers, fibre optics, CAT scans etc.. That does not mean that we were intellectually incapable of learning! - we were certainly at the top of the tree with what was available at the time. In order to keep current we have had to pick up that knowledge over the years through courses and hands on experience in those areas.
We always strove for perfection, but we had a tremendous amount of fun as well as a lot of hard work.
Just because we are now in our 60's does not mean that we are all Dickensian Sarah Gamps!
I am sure that young nurses have come across a few oldies who have not kept current, and are not up to speed, but we should not all be tarred with the same brush!

I now work as a staff nurse at the age of 63 having previously worked as a practice nurse and still wear my SRN badge with pride. The older generation recognise this badge belonging to a nurse who was trained the traditional way. By the way I still have my practical books that had to be signed by the ward sister when she thought you were proficient in skills and knowledge.

Thanks for outlining our training Mo. I will always remember the ward based assessments I had to pass when I trained from 1979 - 1982. The first one (in my first year) was aseptic technique, the second in my (second year) was drug administration and the third one in my final year was ward management. We couldn't do IV drugs until after we had trained and never learnt venepuncture at all, although I did learn it as a Community Nurse later. I am now just starting an OU Degree Course as although I can't practice as I would like due to MS now, I realise the need for self development despite rapidly hurtling towards my half century in June.

just a comment regarding SEN training - you needed 4 0 levels, one of which had to be English, you also has to pass a written test and an extremely challenging interview before being accepted onto the training.I chooose to take the SEN training as I wanted to be a hands on nurse, and not be stuck in the office, with the paper work. My training was as thorough and as academic as the SRN training. We had to pass the same tests and exams.
SEN's have had years of being classed as 2nd class - a fact that is totally untrue. As soon as i qualified i ran a ward with the sister, it was difficult at times, due to the fact that i needed an SRN around, but i was reasonably well supported. Nursing is about nursing people, not being mini doctors. I think we all have to embrace change, and the qualification now is totally different to what it was years ago. There are good and not so good nurses, as it always will be.Just as there are good and not so good doctors, vets and bank managers. I am proud to be an SEN.

I'm glad I am an "old school" SRN. The training was tough and we were often thrown in the deep-end but I feel that our training was well-rounded and equipped us to cope with a wide variety of situations. We also really knew our patients as we did not have to spend so much time on paperwork. Many of us have gone on to do more academic studies during our career and that has led to many more opportunities for nurses. I feel I have enjoyed the best of both worlds and now run my own health screening company. Don't knock us "oldies" - experience can be far more valuable than the number of diplomas or degrees under your belt.

Spot on Mo. I would be happy to be nursed by anyone who trained with me. I despair at some of the care I have received (and seen given to others) as an in patient. Amazing extremes. Superb specialist nurses who made me feel humble yet some ward nurses who should have been ashamed at their disregard for rights let alone care needs.

I think I would of preferred a more hands on approach to becoming a nurse.. when you qualify you know what you are doing, you have more practice running a ward and more confidence in your skills. I'm not sure todays training will prepare me in all the areas I wish to be prepared for.. in a practical and skill sense .. bit scary is you ask me.