About Joan
Former nurse at RIE
Joan trained as a nurse in RIE from 1963 to 1967. Joan shared with me that before commencing her studies, she had two study offers – one for medicine in Aberdeen, and another – for nursing in Edinburgh. She chose nursing since she particularly wanted to live in Edinburgh. To acknowledge that, we made the portrait on level 4 of the building, which has spectacular views into the city.
Joan shared some excerpts from her diary written during her training years, which reflects the experience and feelings of a young nurse in training. The names are changed to protect the anonymity of the people mentioned.
Extracts From Joan Bell’s Diaries 1963-1966
September 2nd 1963
“I’m sharing a room with a very nice girl called Linda. We all had lots of forms to fill in and were spoken to by our principal Sister tutorns Miss S. & Miss C. our tutor. We were then all taken to the canteen at 6.0pm and had egg pie and trifle.”
September 3rd to 6th 1963
We were shown round the hospital and some of us had chest x-rays taken having stripped to the waist and given old shirt-like affairs to wear: Lectures started in earnest with anatomy and physiology, The National Health Service, Local Government, what is expected a nurse should do, and how to make a bed.
September 26th 1963
First day in the wards: Ward 15 Female surgical. Susan and i were a bag of jitters but met our instructor, Sister K. who was very pleasant. She showed us all the ante-rooms and where everything was kept. We then proceeded to do our first real bed bath on a lady who had had her gallbladder removed.
7th December 1963
Susan & I were in charge of the ward for a while but we managed fine!
12th December 1963
Sister T. in a black mood and I felt she was watching me all the time. Told me off for carrying a teaspoon in my hand and said I should have had a tray!
19th December 1963
Sister asked me to check a premed with her. Whilst she was getting it out l had to prepare the syringe and open the ampoule then she said to witness it, and in the same breath – to give it. I just whispered. “Yes, Sister”. I took my tray and found the spot – “Very good” said sister. My poor knees were like jelly.
25th December 1963
Up at 5.0am started carol singing around the hospital at 6.0am finishing at 7.30. We were given a drink by Sister. Santa visited and gave presents to both nurses and patients. The dinner was served from the ward and the chief, M. M. carved the turkey. We had a candlelit tea party in the afternoon followed by a drink of sherry in sister’s room at 6.30.
1st March 1964
Witnessed my first cardiac arrest but managed to stay calm.
3rd August 1964
Allocated to a district nurse and saw a TB patient, 8 diabetics who needed insulin and 2 cancerous wounds to dress and 2 bed baths to do. Certainly a varied and interesting day.
2nd September 1964
Received my white collar!
27th June 1965
Sister K. very keen on strict visiting times and always rang an old school-like bell to denote the end of visiting time which made some patients practically jump out of their skins. At other times we were always told to be really quiet.
2nd September 1965
Received white cuffs. Blue collars seem to respect you more with these!
12th October 1965
Night duty Ward 10
Chaos and confusion on the ward tonight as we were so busy – non-stop from 9.30pm -7.30am 2 serious ops, plus 3 admissions, drips to set up and had to help a more junior doc do a bronchoscopy. The doctors were up all night and all sister could say in the morning was; “why weren’t the 3.0am temps done……” She did later apologise when she saw how busy we had been!
April 6th 1966
Specialled lass in isolation. Needed to do quarterly hourly obs. Everything was strictly sterile – I think they even sterilised my supper..Ugh!
6.6.66
I got engaged!
3 October 1966
Final Exams
10 October 1966
Practical exam where I had to remove a drain from a wound. The Oral questions were ok.
