A young man was referred to me seeking a job. He is a fresh new BSN graduate. I was flattered that i was approached but it certainly brought back memories of my early nursing career. After graduating I was immediately back in the Army. I had opted to specialize in operating room nursing at first.
The schooling at that time was a 6 month program. I was sent to Walson Army Hospital in Fort Dix NJ. It was a pretty busy OR. The morning would start with us washing down the Operating rooms. We would then prepare the instruments to be ready for the surgeons arrival at 0700. Between each case the room had to be re washed. After the days surgeries we went to central supply .We made our own saline solutions, washed and processed bloody lap pads, sharpen our own needles on a whetstone, make suture packs, prepare dressings, folded gowns and masks, and sterilized equipment. all of which today is pre done by the manufacturers of disposables. Back then everything was reusable.
The surgical procedures were all open, no mini incisions, no '''oscopies of any kind. The anesthetic agents waifed through the air. Ether , chloroform, cyclopropane- it was a wonder our livers did not cease to function. At the end of the week we were required to empty all the shelves of equipment , wipe every thing with alcohol.
An OR nurses job was never done!
Man the dark ages were tough!
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