· web viewrecalls hiding place for alcohol bottle in rooms. never saw a nurse under influence...

NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960sAbstract

Phyllis Paul

Recorded: 3 DEC 2012 File: 1 of 5Interviewer: Debbie DunsfordAbstracter: Debbie DunsfordEquipment type:

Fostex FR-2LE Digital Recorder

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 1: Phyllis Paul 3 December 2012.Photograph: Debbie DunsfordPhoto 2: Phyllis Paul, Student Nurse, 1952-1954.

000'10" INTRODUCTIONPHYLLIS EVELYN (NEE NELSON) PAUL. Born HASTINGS 1 July 1933. Father's name ALFRED EDWARD NELSON. Born GISBORNE. Father went to work at 13 years old as a kauri BUSHMAN in NORTHLAND, COROMANDEL, GISBORNE. Became a BUTCHER later [OCCUPATION]. Phyllis recalls as a child witnessing father's strength and familiarity with use of dynamite when felling trees. Mother's name MYRTLE ALICIA (NEE DYNES) NELSON. Born in LEESTON in South Island. Grandfather grew up in CHRISTCHURCH area, worked as an engineer on the RAKAIA Bridge and on the WEST COAST. Wanted to become a FARMER so moved to a series of farms including KING COUNTRY and WARKWORTH.

004'40" PARENTS' MARRIAGE & FATHER'S WORKDescribes how parents met. MYRTLE worked in hotel in WARKWORTH and ALFRED stayed there for his work. Married in FRANKLIN. Grandfather had sold WARKWORTH farm and moved to HAMILTON. Parents moved to COROMANDEL for father's butchering work. Began butcher's business in DEPRESSION but did not continue. Did bush work. Moved to GISBORNE area, worked in FREEZING WORKS at TOLAGA BAY, TOKOMARU BAY. Mentions DEATHs of first children. Moved to GISBORNE, two sons born there. Then to HASTINGS where he was a BOARD WALKER/ASSISTANT FOREMAN for FREEZING WORKS. PHYLLIS and younger brother born HASTINGS. Became FOREMAN of the BORTHWICKS WAINGAWA freezing works in MASTERTON (biggest in country at time). Phyllis grew up in MASTERTON.

007'08" FAMILY STANDARD OF LIVINGThinks family had a good STANDARD OF LIVING. Had a car, a few acres of land. Describes animals including cows for milking. Children had

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chores around property.

008'39" MOTHER'S RED CROSS WORK IN WORLD WAR 2Mother joined RED CROSS. Father was 41 and had 4 children so didn't go to WORLD WAR 2. BORTHWICKS put in ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY claim. Father disappointed but was sergeant in HOME GUARD. Mother really enjoyed being a VAD. Looked after JAPANESE PRISONERS OF WAR from nearby camp. Describes nurses not being able to wear medals while in war and always guarded. AMERICAN SOLDIERS also stationed at MASTERTON. Mother brought nurses home from hospital and 'I was always impressed by them because they always seemed to be smiling and laughing and telling stories'. Influence on her becoming a nurse. Describes RED CROSS uniform with veil and red cross. Mother's younger sister was a nurse trained at WAIKATO and WHANGAREI (HOSPITALS). Father's brother went to war and married a Welsh nurse during the war. Phyllis very impressed by her.

012'30" EDUCATIONAttended MASTERTON CENTRAL SCHOOL [EDUCATION]. Recalls first day at school. SECONDARY SCHOOL was WAIRARAPA COLLEGE (1947-1949). Went by bicycle [TRANSPORT]. Did a commercial course because mother thought she would work in an office and then marry. Describes professional, commercial and home science courses.

015'30" FIRST JOBApplied for CADETSHIP at PUBLIC TRUST but 'they preferred a boy'. Describes. Offered job with the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Enjoyed FARMING content of job.

Describes becoming aware of NURSING as a possible CAREER. Applied and accepted. Describes parents' reactions. 'Dad said "oh, you'll never cope with it".'

018'00" ACCEPTANCE FOR NURSINGWas a little young to begin training but accepted because her mother had worked at the hospital. MASTERTON HOSPITAL had good pass rates. Describes MEDICAL EXAMINATION.

Describes reaction to her resignation of MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE. REFEREES would have been Mr MCFARLANE, CHIEF CLERK OF MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE in MASTERTON, and neighbour Mr HENDERSON.

021'30" FIRST DAY AND UNIFORMSNursing students came from MASTERTON, FEATHERSTON, WELLINGTON, PAHIATUA, TAKAKA. One MAORI student. Describes backgrounds of some. All aged late teens. Describes UNIFORMS. When passed JUNIOR STATE EXAM could purchase a MASTERTON HOSPITAL blazer.

Describes changing UNIFORMS between being on the ward and off it. Difficult to do this and go for meals within 30 minutes. INFECTION CONTROL. Thinks non-ward UNIFORMS were light blue in first year, then white after that. Refers to CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL UNIFORMS which were known to be very formal with black stockings and aprons. The uniforms helped make CHRISTCHURCH distinct. It 'had a great

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name for a nursing training school'. Comments that nurses from the smaller training schools were also very proud of them.

029'00" CLASS SIZE, FRIENDSHIPS AND HIERARCHYSmall class and they were great friends. Adjustments included loss of privacy. During first six months, student nurses stayed in small army-type huts with four to a building. Then moved up a step to OLD NURSES' HOME. HIERARCHY very strict. Could never walk past anyone senior to yourself. 'Some of those senior girls used to just delight in walking down the corridor as slow as they could so that we couldn't go past them.'

032'10" PRELIMINARY TRAINING SCHOOL & WARD WORKFirst six weeks learning basic nursing skills. Taught respect for PATIENT privacy and dignity. Lectures included some ANATOMY and PHYSIOLOGY. Refers TUTOR SISTERS, Sister ADAMS and Sister (?) SMITH.

Describes JUNIOR NURSES' tasks. Panning of PATIENTS and in the sluice room. Hard work. Describes cleaning pans inside and out and stacked ready for MATRON's round at 11 o'clock. Damp and high dusting. Describes how difficult to do everything in time. Sponged patients but not much other "nursing" work at the time. Distributed meals to patients. Describes. WARD SISTER's role to dish meals out.

039'35" LEARNING ON THE WARDRemembers TUTOR SISTERS as being good. But learned a lot on ward from watching seniors. Learned from them informally how to deal with people/patients. Recalls shock the first time she watched a senior nurse remove sutures from a surgical patient's wound. Describes. Second year nurse could remove sutures. Third year nurse could give out drugs.

Very little help with CLEANING at MASTERTON. Junior nurses did most cleaning jobs. 'We just accepted this is what you do.'

043'03" LEAVING NURSE TRAININGSat JUNIOR STATE EXAMINATION. Some in class discontented with nursing and a number left. Describes some reasons including hard physical work, shift work, curfews. Recounts incidents that led to her deciding to leave nursing and trying HAIRDRESSING [CAREER]. Recounts going to MATRON and resigning, then to HOME SISTER who said 'Nurse Nelson, I'm just going to put your uniforms aside because I know that you'll be back'. Another girl took six months leave.

Recalls how HAIRDRESSING was not satisfying after nursing. After six months decided to return. Too proud to return to MASTERTON in class behind her friends. Describes meeting PATTY PATITI at a party. She was latest GOLD MEDALIST nurse from WAIRAU HOSPITAL, BLENHEIM, and recommended WAIRAU. Phyllis wrote to Miss (?) WYNN at WAIRAU and was accepted. Started April 1954. Able to go away from home, had somewhere to live, had a job and money. SECURITY. Two cousins in MARLBOROUGH were in AIR FORCE.

052'48" DIFFERENCES WAIRAU AND MASTERTON HOSPITALImpression that WAIRAU better equipped with instruments.

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Atmosphere homely. MATRON Miss WOOD lovely. Worked six days a week. Miss WOOD rostered girls who lived out of town so they could visit home every six weeks. Phyllis would fly to WELLINGTON in a DEVON aircraft and be picked up by family. Strict rules, formal midday meal in dining room. Describes.

FILE ENDS 56 MINUTES 24 SECONDS.Recorded: 3 DEC 2012 File: 2 of 5Interviewer: Debbie DunsfordAbstracter: Debbie DunsfordEquipment type:


000'26" CURRICULUMCURRICULUM included MEDICAL NURSING, SURGICAL NURSING, MEDICAL PROCEDURES and PROTOCOLS, DIET. Four examinations. Recounts how she achieved HONOURS in DIET in STATE FINAL EXAM. Comments on one tutor being 'old-fashioned, we thought, and she was very dictatorial... and we were starting to get a bit liberal by this time'. WAIRAU a little less strict than MASTERTON. Everyone liked the main TUTOR SISTER AILSA SMITH [nick name SMITHIE].

At WAIRAU, each class had one STUDY DAY per week away from wards. Reasonable links between study and practical. Contrasts with MASTERTON. Attended lectures by doctors during shifts.

004'48" MATERNITYMATERNITY/OBSTETRIC NURSING was a separate training then. Maternity hospital in BLENHEIM was HOMEDOWN. CAESARIAN cases to WAIRAU HOSPITAL.

Usual pattern was to do six months MATERNITY training after STATE FINALS. Explains how her HUSBAND did not want her to do NIGHT DUTY so did not do that training.

CURRICULUM changed around that time. Brought OBSTETRICS into three year programme. Thinks less on DIET. Explains that intended doing training but circumstances prevented.

006'55" COMMUNITY NURSING DURING TRAININGWent out with DISTRICT NURSES. Recalls visiting RAI VALLEY and WAIRAU VALLEY. 'An eye-opener.' Refers to VENOUS ULCERS. She and friend decided they would go DISTRICT NURSING and then overseas. 'Anyway, we both met a man and that all went by the board.'

007'00" WORK AFTER MARRIAGEMarried after registered and returned to work at WAIRAU as STAFF NURSE. Recalls SOCIAL ATTITUDES to working after marriage in 1957. Describes how enjoyed being STAFF NURSE in SURGICAL WARD. Did not have responsibility of WARD SISTER but no longer a student. Some time for socialising. Does not recall talk about need for CURRICULUM CHANGE during her training.

009'29" COOK HOSPITAL, GISBORNEDescribes FAMILY LIFE, birth of CHILDREN, move to GISBORNE.

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Interruption to interview with dog.

Worked five days a week at COOK HOSPITAL in afternoons. Describes WORKING HOURS and CHILDCARE arrangements, FAMILY FINANCES. Saved enough to return to BLENHEIM.

Differences COOK and WAIRAU. BLENHEIM had TB SHELTERS but COOK had two wards full (30 each ward), more than twice as many TB patients. GISBORNE served a large area. Very high percentage of TB patients was MAORI. Other wards similar. Training school, students there. One sister and self as staff nurse only trained staff on afternoons. Describes duties. Describes a terrible incident: NURSES BALL and ACUTE APPENDICITIS case. THEATRE STAFF called but didn't arrive. Their two THEATRE SISTERS involved in car accident, one killed. AMBULANCE. Huge emotional impact on staff. Two ENGLISH girls working in NZ.

Reflects on her teaching of student nurses. Not confident but taught them practical things. Automatic. HIERARCHY still there but maybe not as strict as WAIRAU. Possibly afternoons were more low key.

017'12" SHIFT STRUCTUREAt MASTERTON, shifts were 6-2, 2-10, 10-6. Recounts doing the 'night runner' duty which included waking morning duty nurses at 5.15am. KING GEORGE VI died in 1952. Recalls knocking on nurses' doors and saying 'Good morning nurse, it's 5.15 and the King is dead'.

At WAIRAU, shifts were 7-3, 3-11, 11-7. Some changeover time. Always asked permission to finish shift. Still expects staff to report to her today before leaving. Describes early routine on MORNING SHIFT. WARD SISTER would hand over report. Current practice is that each nurse reports on their patients to the nurse coming on shift.

021'05" PATIENT CAREExplains how the more acute the patient, the more senior the nurse. Patient care changed with POLYTECHNIC training in the 1970s. Moved to one nurse providing all of a patient's care. Earlier, care was task orientated rather than patient orientated. For example, the junior nurse would wash all the patients or do all the back care. Individual care plans developed. Describes.

023'30" DOCTOR AND NURSE WARD RELATIONSHIPSAlways addressed CONSULTANTS as 'Sir' and JUNIOR HOUSE DOCTORS as 'Doctor'. Stood with hands behind backs. Describes inter-relationships on wards. WARD SISTER had total control of the ward. 'We trained the house surgeons.' WARD SISTER and CONSULTANT relationship still quite formal. Explains forms of address.

026'25" EXAMSHospital EXAMS every six months. Had to pass hospital exam before could sit SENIOR STATE EXAM. Explains. Describes how some failed exams and sat again. Phyllis received results while at home in MASTERTON preparing for WEDDING.

028'40" SMALL HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE & PATIENTS

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WAIRAU was a small GENERAL HOSPITAL. Comments on variety of her experience while training. Recalls a severely BURNED PATIENT before he was moved to BURNS UNIT at HUTT HOSPITAL.

Recounts raising money for a NURSES' CHAPEL through hairdressing for long-term patients. One of these patients was Mrs STEVENSON from UPCOTT with a FRACTURED FEMUR. Another patient had BOWEL CANCER and appreciated having her hair done. Describes conditions that required lengthy hospitalisation [FRACTURES, HYSTERECTOMY, MENISECTOMY]. Phyllis required her nurses to give PHYSIOTHERAPY exercises because of high risk of DVT [DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS]. Disadvantage of a small hospital was that too few PHYSIOTHERAPISTS. Ongoing treatment responsibility of nurses. CANCER patients in hospital a long time. No CHEMOTHERAPY, MORPHINE given for pain.

035'15" CHANGES IN EQUIPMENT, TECHNIQUES, DISEASEDescribes MORPHINE preparation. Describes change in INTRAVENOUS LINE insertion technique. INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS went from glass bottles to plastic bags. SUCTIONS changed.

Has seen all the childhood diseases [DIPHTHERIA, WHOOPING COUGH, POLIO]. Comments on how that experience informs INFECTION CONTROL work now. Recalls fear of having to perform a TRACHEOTOMY on DIPHTHERIA patients. MEASLES and MUMPS both serious diseases.

Recalls POLIO EPIDEMIC while a student at MASTERTON COLLEGE. When came to WAIRAU, another POLIO EPIDEMIC. Two wards of mostly adult patients. Describes IRON LUNGS which were noisy and 'quite frightening'. Recalls a young polio patient who later studied MEDICINE and returned to WAIRAU as a HOUSE SURGEON.

041'38" EMOTIONAL ASPECTSRecalls own sheltered experience before nursing. Nurses discussed ward events in NURSES' HOME. Senior nurses helped. No formal preparation for DEATH. If upset might go into SLUICE ROOM or STERILISING ROOM.

043'42" CHANGES IN EQUIPMENT & TECHNIQUESDescribes boiling and sterilising surgical trays and EQUIPMENT. Dressings hand-prepared. Cut GAMGEE into different sized dressings and packed into drums to be sterilised. Folded linen by hand. Student nurses learned by doing everything many times. Today, nurses learn but don't have to do it. Nurses today have more knowledge than they did.

046'22" NURSES' HOMEOwn room at WAIRAU. Describes. Grounds at WAIRAU were 'lovely'. Showers and baths in BATHROOMS.

Recalls MEALS being good at MASTERTON and WAIRAU. Describes. Waited on in dining room at WAIRAU. Describes, morning and afternoon teas, meals and desserts. Describes moving up the dining room as became more senior [HIERARCHY].

050'35" NURSES' HOME

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Visited friends and family for meals. Friend MARY's family at TUAMARINA. MARY's father CHAIRMAN of WAIRAU HOSPITAL BOARD. Mentions HOSPITAL BOARD taxi service to BLENHEIM from WAIRAU HOSPITAL. [TRANSPORT]

Did personal LAUNDRY. Hospital laundered UNIFORMS. Describes process. Comments on benefits and amenities provided in NURSES' HOME. Nurses raised money to build a CHAPEL and a NURSES' HALL. Refers to FUNDRAISING activities.

Curfew 10pm. NIGHT SISTER did rounds of NURSES' HOME. Recalls instances of nurses being out late and getting into NURSES' HOME. Nurses reported to DEPUTY MATRON, Miss CHITTENDEN [DISCIPLINE].

BOYFRIENDS waited for nurses in the 'Beau Parlour'. Describes.

059'15" STUDYING AND RELATIONSHIPSSTUDY in NURSES' HOME. Describes.

Recounts studying with friend MARY in bed. Miss CHITTENDEN came into room and 'she told us off a treat. We didn't know what it was all about. We were just sitting up in bed there literally studying, just helping each other. It was very much frowned upon'. Aware later as a registered nurse of LESBIAN RELATIONSHIPS. Discusses.

Describes arriving at WAIRAU in second year and fitting in with established group [FRIENDSHIPS]. Mentions some nurses may have felt a little outside the group. Discusses.

HOMESICKNESS alleviated because could go home every six weeks. Not homesick once met BRIAN (PAUL) (future husband).

064'22" SENIOR NURSESDescribes how some SENIOR NURSES were excellent teachers but others could not be bothered. Recalls how one senior nurse at MASTERTON would 'yell' at them across the ward. Same nurse also at WAIRAU (at HOMEDALE for maternity training) then in theatre. Because both had been at MASTERTON, 'I was just the cat's pyjamas. And she was a totally different person'. Most senior nurses helpful. Refers MARGARET PEACOCK.

066'55" PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHPS/ MALE NURSESDescribes professional relationship with REGISTERED NURSES and HOUSE SURGEONS. Recalls putting LASIX (DIURETIC) into coffee of one house surgeon as a prank. Recalls prank played on new ORDERLIES taking a 'body' to morgue.

MALE NURSES at WAIRAU (MEN'S MEDICAL and SURGICAL WARDS). Refers male student nurse, KEITH JELLYMAN, who became STAFF NURSE about 1974. Two of earlier MALE NURSES had done PSYCHIATRIC TRAINING. Two other male nurses, ALF and JOHN, had trained in city hospitals and came to WAIRAU as STAFF NURSES. Discusses. Refers RAY ALEXANDER from CHRISTCHURCH who went into all wards and theatre.

File ends 72 minutes 40 seconds.

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000'18" SOCIAL LIFE & PAYKept up with friends and visited home at MASTERTON. At WAIRAU, nurses went out together, BALLS and DANCING. Weekends at MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS with BOYFRIEND. Cycled into BLENHEIM for shopping. Refers to J E THOMAS'S as the major fashion shop. Refers to being paid 35 shillings when started nursing. At WAIRAU, received about 3 pounds a week. When registered increased to 10 pounds a week and felt well paid. Might go to a MILKBAR for a milkshake when shopping.

Went to pictures [CINEMA] in a group by taxi [TRANSPORT]. If off duty on Saturday night, went to DANCE at ST PAT'S HALL. A lot of girls met and married AIR FORCE men from WOODBOURNE. Boys rang the NURSES' HOME to ask for a group of nurses to attend a party. A ball fortnightly during BALL SEASON. Refers to RSA BALL, HUNT CLUB BALL, NURSES' BALL. Held Friday nights because could not stay open past midnight on Saturdays. Made BALL dresses with own SEWING machine [CLOTHING]. Describes.

007'40" HOSPITAL SOCIAL ACTIVITIESCHRISTMAS PARTY or CONCERT each year. Each department performed item. Describes. Participated in NURSES' CHOIR. Performed at GRADUATION and CONCERT. NURSES' SWIMMING POOL and SWIMMING SPORTS DAY. Describes benefit of SWIMMING POOL in hot weather. NURSES sang CHRISTMAS CAROLS in wards. Describes CHRISTMAS activities in wards. Refers Dr WILSON. Groups of nursing and medical staff had PARTIES. Describes.

013'20" SMOKING & ALCOHOL'Practically every nurse smoked.' Describes being a non-smoker. Recounts taking up SMOKING and parents' and boyfriend's reactions [ATTITUDES TO WOMEN SMOKING]. No awareness of HEALTH ISSUES. Refers PASSIVE SMOKING. Patients smoked in bed.

ALCOHOL not allowed on premises. Recalls hiding place for ALCOHOL bottle in rooms. Never saw a nurse under influence of ALCOHOL unless at a party. Later when REGISTERED NURSE saw NURSES with ALCOHOL problems. Describes.

018'15" MEETING FUTURE HUSBAND & ENGAGEMENTInterview Interrupted with dog.

Describes meeting future husband, BRIAN PAUL, at DANCE lessons. Refers to MALE NURSE, HERB BRINSDEN. Describes how relationship developed. Refers to DANCE at ST PAT's. No ALCOHOL allowed at DANCES but in cars. Describes.

Tempted to abandon training when ENGAGED. TUTOR SISTER convinced her to finish. [kettle in background]. Husband not keen on

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her WORKING AFTER MARRIAGE but appreciated money.

024'10" NURSES AND PREGNANCYSome student nurses got PREGNANT. Left to marry and never returned. Not aware of any ABORTIONS.

025'22" SPORTS & ASSOCIATIONSHad TENNIS COURTS and played social TENNIS and against NELSON HOSPITAL. In MASTERTON, NURSES' HOCKEY TEAM played in local competition. NETBALL TEAM at WAIRAU played in local competition.

Refers to NURSES' CHRISTIAN UNION, CATHOLIC NURSES, NEW ZEALAND REGISTERED NURSES' and STUDENT NURSES' ASSOCIATIONS. Describes involvement as a student and later. CHRISTIANITY an important part of life. Attended CHURCH. FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE SERVICE at NATIVITY ANGLICAN CHURCH every MAY on INTERNATIONAL NURSES' DAY. Nurses attended in UNIFORM.

028'20" SICKNESSEncouraged not to work while SICK but did if short staffed. Recalls working with a cold or BRONCHITIS and had thermal wool on chest and back. Wore mask if coughing. If very sick, admitted to NURSES' SICK BAY attached to a ward. Cared for by other nurses, MATRON visited.

030'10" NURSING COMPARED TO OTHER WOMEN'S WORKThought that nursing, caring for sick people, was important work [VOCATION]. Contrasts to work in AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT. HAIRDRESSING clients seemed superficial.

032'12" STUDENT NURSES' ASSN/REGISTERED NURSES' ASSNDoesn't recall particular issues for STUDENT NURSES' ASSN but concerns were PAY, HOLIDAYS, number of days and hours worked per week, NURSING DUTIES. Comments that gave away some duties to other occupations, SOCIAL WORK, for example. Had to think about what NURSES did as nurses.

Aspired to join REGISTERED NURSES' ASSN. Comments that two associations separate at the time. PAY quite good for WOMEN'S WORK. Thinks MALE NURSES received same pay as WOMEN.

035'58" STATE FINAL EXAMINATION/REGISTRATIONChange of training hospital meant had to do extra months before sitting final exams. Designated ACTING STAFF NURSES in meantime. Refers friend MARY. 'We had a great old time.' Describes. Left to go home to MASTERTON to marry. Returned to BLENHEIM for GRADUATION CEREMONY. Parents and husband, Board members and staff attended. Describes. Aware of achievement and hard work involved. Reflects on how much is learned and how the individual nurse changes during training. Once registered, you are at the start and keep learning throughout your career.

041'57" WORKING AS A STAFF NURSEWAIRAU fairly liberal on married women working. STUDENT NURSES had to live in and could not be married. Refers to friend who was first nurse to marry during her training (at WAIRAU).

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Returned to work as a STAFF NURSE quite soon after MARRIAGE. WOMEN'S SURGICAL WARD [GENERAL SURGERY, GYNAECOLOGY, BOWEL SURGERY, COLYSESTECTOMY, D&C (DILATION & CURETTAGE), FRACTURES]. Enjoyed SURGICAL wards because you could see the patient healing. With MEDICAL patients what was happening more obscure.

045'38" CHANGING PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUESChange not until later in 1970s. Dr GREBNER (check), an innovative CANADIAN physician, arrived. Got all the equipment he requested. Describes use of GASTROSCOPE. WAIRUA BOARD very generous. Set up ENDOSCOPY clinic. Michael (?), who had worked in SOWETO doing EMERGENCY SURGERY also innovative. Wanted to start doing DAY SURGERY, very new at the time. Spoke to NURSING COUNCIL about how WAIRAU HOSPITAL was doing DAY SURGERY.

048'45" RETURN TO WAIRAU HOSPITALHusband BRIAN (PAUL), a PHOTOGRAPHER [OCCUPATION]. Wanted to return to BLENHEIM. Started own photographic studio and both worked in business. Thought of part-time work nursing. Saw MATRON, Miss TALBOT. Told she couldn't work part-time but might be something full-time. A couple of months later asked if would do two weeks orientation. Two days into orientation, could she do full-time on MENS' SURGICAL from the next day. Refers STAFF NURSE PICKERING. Explains. Sharp learning curve 1972. Changes huge, dressings pre-packed, MORPHINE in an ampoule, INTRAVENOUS technique and DRUGS different. Previously just PENICILLIN and STREPTOMYCIN (both INTRA MUSCULAR). Phyllis took NURSING PROCEDURE MANUAL home with her. Basics still the same and dealing with patients hadn't changed. Drug names different. WARD SISTER was wonderful and a Staff Sister. Describes learning about drugs. Stayed on the ward and became WARD SISTER. 7 to 3 or 3 to 11 as staff nurse. CHILD CARE arrangements. Had to work FULL TIME. 1973 became WARD SISTER. DEPUTY MATRON asked her to apply. 3 years new ward blocks opening and mixed male and female wards starting.

057'40" PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR ORTHOPAEDIC PATIENTSDescribes how ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS came fortnightly from WELLINGTON (HOSPITAL). Refers to Mr HUNTER (SURGEON) and Mr RICHARDS (PHYSIOTHERAPIST). Refers Mr SMART in ORTHOPAEDIC WARD. Felt nurses work doing PHYSIOTHERAPY for patients unappreciated.

058'49" ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTMoved to A&E (ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY). Loved urgency of it. Never knew what coming through door. Department also ran AMBULANCE service and nurses went out on AMBULANCE. Very busy. Mostly accidents, resuscitation, childhood injuries, broken arms and burns and cuts, rugby injures, fishing and farming injuries. Describes incident of a fisherman injured at CAPE CAMPBELL. Refers MARFELLS BEACH. Fainted after TETANUS injection. Friday and Saturday nights busiest. Refers CAR CRASHES, ALCOHOL, ABUSE towards hospital staff, other conditions.

063'35" MIXED SURGICAL WARDApplied for another ward, mostly URINARY and GYNAECOLOGY WARD.

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Suggested by a surgeon she might like to work there. Took on more responsibility including NURSING PROCEDURES and INFECTION CONTROL. Collaborative process with senior staff.

066'15" WAIRAU HOSPITAL IN 1970SWAIRAU a really good place to work while still HOSPITAL BOARD structure with very good SURGEONS and PHYSICIANS. Discusses funding including DONATIONS from community and EQUIPMENT FUND.

067'24" SETTING UP DAY CASE UNITFelt burnt out and tired. Took leave and decided to give up CHARGE NURSE position. MALE NURSE Keith (?) was her deputy and took over. CHIEF NURSE GLENYS BALDICK suggested setting up DAY CASE and ENDOSCOPY CLINIC. BALDICK a very forward thinking person. Describes clinic organisation, staff and some procedures. Refers PROSTATECTOMIES, GASTROSCOPY, BRONCHOSCOPY AND COLONOSCOPY. Nurses took special care of fibre optic instruments. Describes some difficulty with small number of nursing staff and operating within another charge nurse's ward.

072'30" MEDICAL OUTPATIENTS CLINIC / AFTERNOON SUPERVISORClinic did CHEMOTHERAPY and bee sting desensitisation. Describes. Working Monday to Friday. Her children had left home by this time. Enjoyed learning and broadening scope of practice. Wanted to work full-time and was AFTERNOON SUPERVISOR (1984-1992). Describes shift structure, duties and responsibilities. Some hands-on as well as paperwork. Describes calling out two HELICOPTERS on same shift. Refers MOLESWORTH STATION, MULLER (STATION), (MARLBOROUGH) SOUNDS [TRANSPORT]. WAIRAU HOSPITAL always ran own AMBULANCE SERVICE. MASTERTON HOSPITAL used ST JOHN'S (AMBULANCE). Good support from staff and management.

Telephone rings in background.File ends 81 minutes 24 seconds.

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Phyllis Paul



000'21" INFECTION CONTROL NURSE / NURSING DEGREEIn 1992, became INFECTION CONTROL NURSE part-time. Comments on management changes, from students to POLYTECHNIC students. Patient notes and nursing care plans different. New nursing process. Encouraged to do FURTHER EDUCATION. Group of four from WAIRAU completed degree extramurally through MASSEY UNVIERSITY. Encouraged by CHIEF NURSE and WAIRAU management. WAIRAU BOARD paid some of fees. Two to three papers a year. Four credits for being RN. Needed 17 papers. Enjoyed going to MASSEY and being a student on campus. Met nurses from around country. Comments on amount of study and assignments. All theoretical not practical. Theory gave better background and management skills for work. Understood the changes happening. Doesn't think has given any better job or pay but knowledge wise a great help. One of biggest achievements in life. Did it on own.

INFECTION CONTROL, policies, procedure and standards. See that everybody understands about infection control and precautions. Isolation procedures. Refers current thinking of STANDARD PRECAUTIONS and EXTRA PRECAUTIONS. Everybody is infectious. Took time for position to become established. HEALTH DEPARTMENT led changes. Refers GLENYS BALDICK. Describes involvement in planning of new hospital from INFECTION CONTROL point of view. Special positions like this started in 1990s. Enjoyed role.

010'30" EDUCATION OFFICER, CANCER SOCIETYAs PRESIDENT of local NZNA, was invited to be involved in BREAST CANCER CAMPAIGN by CANCER SOCIETY in 1981. Learned about BREAST SELF EXAMINATION (BSE), spoke to hundreds of other women about BREAST CANCER. Before MAMMOGRAMS. VOLUNTARY WORK.

Witnessed need for PROSTHESES. Set up BREAST CANCER SUPPORT SERVICE. Fitter visited from WELLINGTON twice a year. Learned to fit BREAST PROSTHESES and bras and ran fitting clinic at hospital then at DISTRICT NURSES' premises. Ran lingere shop. 'Everybody knew me as the breast lady in town.' Lobbied HOSPITAL BOARD to establish an ONCOLOGY NURSE [POLITICAL LOBBYING]. Provided pain control, symptom control, transport for RADIOTHERAPY and CHEMOTHERAPY. VOLUNTARY. 1997-2008 provided fitting service for post breast surgery women. CANCER SOCIETY and HOSPITAL BOARD each paid fifty percent of wages for two years. Board then realised need and funded totally. Describes how recognised CANCER PATIENT needs.

File ends 19 minutes 41 seconds.

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Phyllis Paul



000'05" CANCER SOCIETY / BLOODBANKSummarises CANCER SOCIETY roles and activities. Met need and district has excellent service now.

BLOODBANK NURSE. Role was to test for HAEMOGLOBIN and question blood donors. Describes other duties. Part-time job, starting to wind down before RETIREMENT.

Member of NZNA AD HOC COMMITTEE establishing guidelines for DAY CASE UNITS. In 1996, convenor and organiser of NZNO 15th INFECTION CONTROL CONFERENCE in BLENHEIM. Nearly 200 nurses for 3 days.

004'05" NZNA / NZNOInvolvement mostly through INFECTION CONTROL, CONFERENCES, WORKING PARTY FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS.

President of local NZNA group. Produced local JOURNAL. Social and professional ties among members. Describes membership structural change from place groups to workplace groups. Professional development sessions organised locally.

007'40" HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS 1990SReflects on old WAIRAU HOSPITAL BOARD organisation being like a family. Combined with NELSON to be NELSON-MARLBOROUGH. GLENYS BALDICK ensured MARLBOROUGH voice heard. Not heard so well now.

Comments on change. PATIENTS only in hospital while receiving medical care that cannot be delivered elsewhere. As soon as care finished, patient back to community. Comments some think patients pushed out of hospital too quickly. COMMUNITY NURSES and SUPPORT SERVICES provide in-home care. Phyllis had PNEUMONIA in 2012 and in hospital for five days. Received best treatment (refers Dr HEADLEY) but took six weeks to recover at home. 'It's all about money.'

011'10" AGED CARENursing more intense, clinical and medically driven. AGED CARE nursing duties today are same as those they were trained for in 1950s. Caring for human bodies. Enjoys work as a REGISTERED NURSE. Difficult for CAREGIVERS. Different lifting techniques and equipment. Describes how used to lift patients. Comments on how hard CAREGIVERS work and poor pay. CAREGIVERS are TONGANs, INDIANs, PHILIPPINOs.

Currently works five days but will cut down. Team of seven REGISTERED NURSES to cover shifts. Does CLINICAL CO-ORDINATOR role. Older nurses drifting towards AGED CARE now. Describes how INDIAN nurse using NURSING as IMMIGRATION STRATEGY for family.

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Phyllis Paul

016'40" CHANGE OVER THE DECADESUsed to say 'nurses were born not made'. Reflects on nurses who struggled with academic aspects of nurse training. Felt first POLYTECHNIC NURSES did not have caring attitude the prior generation had. Had theory but lacked experience on ward, with patients, time management. Changed with time. ENROLLED NURSES who did BRIDGING PROGRAMME are fantastic nurses. Describes. That group getting older. First year on ward for POLYTECHNIC NURSES hard. Positions highly supported. Deficit between nurses produced and positions available. Granddaughter is training as a nurse.

Change in drugs had huge impact. Keyhole surgery (LAPAROSCOPY) and ENDOSCOPIES also. Describes benefits. Refers POLYPS, BOWEL CANCER. COLYSESTECTOMY, HYSTERECTOMY, CARDIOLOGY.

022'14" REFLECTIONS ON NURSING CAREERFamily accustomed to mother working. Recounts that husband cooked evening meal and brought it to the hospital. Husband got BOWEL CANCER, OSTEO-ARTHRITIS, EMPHYSEMA, KIDNEY FAILURE, HEART FAILURE.

Rewarding and stimulating career. Variety, friends. Doing something for others. Basic principles of caring for a person the same, preventing infection, making their life better. Important whether able to cure or not.

Two minute gap in interview

Awarded BLENHEIM BOROUGH COUNCIL CIVIC HONOUR for cancer services in 1986Awarded ZONTA WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for Cancer SocietyPassed NURSING COUNCIL random audit of NURSING COMPETENCY in 2012.

File and interview ends 30 minutes 27 seconds

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· web viewrecalls hiding place for alcohol bottle in rooms. never saw a nurse under influence...

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