NURSING SCHOOL MEMORIES- by Tom

[tom]

This all took place in the early 1960's.I was 20 and in nursing
school.The students spent part of their time at the hospital
wards,getting first-hand experience with the procedures we would be
using on the job.This morning a group of student nurses gathered at
the psychiatric ward to see a demonstration of admitting procedures.

We were met by the ward charge nurse.She explained that a patient had
just been admitted for observation due to "erratic behavior" by her
doctor.We followed the charge nurse into the exam room.I was one of
five students to see the demonstration of the taking of vital signs.

There on the bed,was a woman my own age.She had been sedated to make
the examination easier to complete as she was agitated and
uncooperative with her hospitalization the nurse explained to us.My
eyes locked onto the young woman,laying face down on the
bed,completely nude.Her buttocks were round and firm.The charge
nurse's voice brought me back to the present.

"Girls,pay close attention." she said sternly."Here in the Psychiatric
Wing,we take all the patients temps rectally since they can't be
trusted with an oral thermometer.I will be demonstrating the procedure
to you this morning." she explained.The patient whimpered upon hearing
this,but the sedative prevented her from resisting this embarrassing
procedure.

The nurse in charge called our attention to the metal tray on the
bedside table.She showed us the glass mercury rectal thermometer with
it's fat,rounded bulb,designed for use in the rectum.She then pointed
out a tube of lubricant-"To make the insertion easier". and the bottle
of alcohol to disinfect the thermometer.

We watched intently as the Charge Nurse,shook down the rectal
thermometer and held it up to the light,before lubricating the
bulb."This is the proper way to spread the patient's buttocks" she
explained as she used her thumb and fingers of her left hand to part
the patient's "cheeks".We heard the woman whimper again,as her anus
was widely exposed to the group of student nurses.

"Ignore all protests by the patient and carry out the procedure every
time." the nurse cautioned us."Make sure to insert the thermometer
slowly,but firmly up the rectum for half it's length for an accurate
reading.Restrain the patient if necessary." she advised.We watched as
the glistening bulb disappeared into the patient's anus and slowly up
her rectum.I glanced at her face and it seemed to say "I can't believe
you're doing this to me."

"Release her buttocks and hold the thermometer in place for a good
five minutes" the nurse lectured.She pressed her palm down on the
woman's buttocks and held the thermometer between her fingers."This is
the only safe way to get a temperature reading and it must be done
with or without the patients cooperation." she advised.I noticed the
patient blush and wiggle slightly.The nurse pressed down firmly on her
buttocks to keep her still,as one would a toddler.She checked the
sweep hand on her watch."Be still!" she admonished the patient.The
nurse then removed the rectal thermometer and wiped it with an alcohol
moistened gauze pad.Holding it up to the light,she read and charted
the temperature.

We then left the room and went from room to room in the ward.Each
student took a patient's rectal temp under the watchful eye of the
charge nurse.She critiqued each of us and took our questions on the
procedure.It was something that has stayed with me all these years.

The End