| 000'20" |
Pressure on TimeReiterates that patients stayed long periods and mostly stayed in bed. Relates story to illustrate the pressure of work and never feeling she could finish all the work in time: One particular patient on a MALE MEDICAL WARD, a jockey with ADDISON’S DISEASE needed a urine glucose test every morning followed by insulin, then breakfast. Remembers daily confrontation because he didn't want to eat, the consequent delays and frustrations, ' the day was shot because you had wasted time' and were behind on your work. Remembers feeling that he was nuisance. ‘We didn't have very much feeling about how the patients felt'. |
| 002'20" |
Patients' Feelings and OpinionsReflects that it was a norm that patients were not supposed to think. Compares this with today, for example discussing implications of MASTECTOMY with a woman preparing for surgery. In the past, 'You wouldn't have gone up to a woman and discussed her sexuality ... they would have been horrified ... it was quite different'. Comments that in relation to DEATH and dying, the nurses 'just got on with it ... had a little cry in the linen cupboard'. |
| 004'20" |
Dealing with ErrorsComments that drug errors must have occurred but she wasn't aware of this.
Relates a story of another nurse, a friend, who thought she had killed her patient because she gave the wrong drug. Remembers feeling annoyed because the nurse expected her to do the layout. Again, the pressure of work. 'You were always late off ... It was not done to be off on time'. |
| 006'15" |
Effect of Expectations on Later CareerExplains effect of training expectations on her professional life. Tells a story from 1990s when working in in-service at AUCKLAND HOSPITAL when the hospital system was under enormous change and upheaval. Was refused permission to leave a few minutes early on Fridays when suffering from a migraine. Reflects on own inability to stand up for herself; believes this was result of expectations during her nurse training. "I still hadn't got over that'. Could not question these expectations although was questioning many other things in other fields ‘successfully and powerfully’. |
| 009'50" |
Pay, Conditions, SavingsNurses were paid very little but 'everything was paid for', e.g. meals and board. Comments that what you got in the pay packet was not much 'but it was all yours'. Received less than contemporaries who were teachers. (Aside comment on microphone). Does not recall problems with finances but mentions that her parents helped financially.
Comments that had an interesting social life with friends outside the hospital. "I think I kept this quite separate'. Stated that nurses didn't buy cars in that day but did hitch-hike.
Was able to save enough money during her training to get to ENGLAND. Reflects that her parents probably helped. Possibly more than most student nurses. |
| 012'40" |
Changes in TreatmentNot much change during her period of training. Comments on huge affect of the introduction of antibiotics. Not aware of this at the time. |
| 014'06" |
Christmas and Miss WilliamsDiscusses Miss MAY WILLIAMS, a ward sister, later a tutor and then went into administration. Remembers one Christmas when WILLIAMS gave each nurse a small drink of sherry, if they were over 21 years and had their parents' permission. Remembers WILLIAMS as 'a very good teacher but very rough and very tough'. Years later, WILLIAMS told her that she had felt very responsible as a role model for the student nurses. 'We just saw her as tough and yelled at you ...' |
| 015'50" |
Sports, Fellowships, GroupsRecalls that SPORT was important for many nurses (not her): netball, swimming, hockey teams. They played inter-hospital matches, had special blazers and badges.
NURSES’ CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP also important for many nurses, but they were 'seen as being a little goody-goody’. Was also a strong CATHOLIC NURSES’ GROUP. Comments that she had more outside interests than many nurses did.
Towards end of her training, JOC WELLS(?) started a more cultural group. Diana and others used to go along to hear broadcasts; remembers going up to 1YA (radio station) to listen to a concert, also had the hospital choir.
Mentions STUDENT NURSES’ ASSOCIATION and going to meetings. |
| 019'00" |
Style of NursingExplains that she was brought up to be socially aware, so was conscious of what was happening (flaws), how it would have been good to sit and talk to a patient, but this was not allowed, 'it didn't matter what you were doing as long as you were moving and upright'. However, suggests that patients in that time may have got a shock if a nurse had sat and talked to them.
Comments on the social norms of the time, e.g. patients did not expect to ask questions of doctors. Recalls a patient at NATIONAL WOMEN'S who wanted to un-wrap her baby to look at its toes. Diana felt quite indignant with the mother's demand.
Suggests that it was a fault of the training that the reason for nursing actions was never explained: she would have liked to ask questions but many others didn't want to. |
| 022'00" |
Relationship, Completion, Graduation adn BallTalks of her long-standing relationship with COLIN; her internal conflict because of pressure to get engaged. Going to ENGLAND at the end of training may have been an escape.
Left AUCKLAND HOSPITAL before results of STATE FINALS were announced. Recalls that this was not uncommon although there was pressure to stay: nurses had to see the MATRON-IN-CHIEF after HOSPITAL FINALS. If they indicated that were leaving, they were not given more encouragement.
Talks of hospital GRADUATION. A big, very formal ceremony in the TOWN HALL which was nearly full. A big photo in newspapers.
Talks of GRADUATION BALL at the PETER PAN ballroom. 'A really big occasion, a big splash'. Mother attended (father had died), COLIN escorted her, she wore orchids. Diana still has the ball gown today. |
| 026'00" |
Repercussions of Father's DeathTells how her father's death was handled badly by the nursing hierarchy: When Diana phoned in sick the morning after his death, Miss LEE TALBOT (MATRON) replied, 'That is very inconsiderate, Nurse'. Strong response from Diana’s well-connected family's friends. Mentions DOUGLAS ROBB, a general surgeon, JEFF NOLAN, in charge of CANCER THERAPY, and Rhoda Bloodworth, President of NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN, who were doing a recruitment drive for nurses. BLOODWORTH suggested to the HOSPITAL BOARD that 'if this was the way they treated nurses, they were not going to .... "
The complaints rebounded on Diana. 'I was in the poo from then on'... 'I was the loser'. Reflects that it taught her some useful lessons. |
| 030'15" |
GraduationRemembers that GRADUATION and the BALL were very special and rewarding. Comments on how important the hospital had been in the AUCKLAND community historically, ‘a big social indicator’ for what was happening in AUCKLAND. Aware of this as a student nurse, 'You would certainly have felt safe to go anywhere as a nurse ... a lot of respect (for nurses)'. However, comments that in her family, nursing was not held in quite such high esteem in terms of what they had expected her to do. |
| 032'30" |
Overseas: London and IsraelDescribes going overseas after finishing training. Initially with a friend in LONDON for three weeks; went to 2-3 shows a day. Explained move to ISRAEL. Found a job through a friend who was working for the Food and Agriculture (FAO) division of the UNITED NATIONS in ROME. She inquired about a job for Diana; offered a job in ISRAEL. For six months worked in the North of ISRAEL on research with child immigrants from the YEMEN. Emphasis on RHEUMATIC FEVER and on Westernising the immigrants. |
| 040'00" |
Overseas: Nursing in LondonDescribes nursing in LONDON at ST CHARLES, LADBROOK GROVE, NORTH KENSINGTON. Discovered that AUCKLAND HOSPITAL training had a good reputation. Describes culture shock of nursing in a poor hospital in a very poor area of London, located next to gas works. It was beginning of CARIBBEAN immigration. Describes patients’ bath routine before discharge and poor quality of food - was shocked that patients liked it. Experienced prejudice from other staff because she came from the ‘colonies’, treated as a foreigner. Also discovered the 'foreigner' position gave her power in the hospital, i.e. was not prepared to follow all the traditions and class-based routines. Mixed with AUSTRALIANS and NZers. 'A colonial frontier against the Pommes'. Conscious of how poor LONDON was in the 1950s. |
| 044'05" |
MelbourneReturned via Melbourne, travelled with English boyfriend; worked at ROYAL MELBOURNE HOSPITAL for a few months. |
| 046'00" |
Neurosurgery WardTells of return to AUCKLAND and being directed to work in NEUROSURGERY. Describe it as ‘a horrible place' due to the influence of the surgeon, DONALD MCKENZIE; nurses did not trust his work - 'he went on too far'. Gave example of a nurse who slipped in THEATRE, hitting her head. She refused to sign the consent for MCKENZIE to doing the surgery.
Briefly mentions marriage in MELBOURNE to JON.
Unhappy in ‘NEURO[SURGICAL]’ WARD; enrolled in papers at UNIVERSITY but not supported to attend lectures. Lack of choice re place of work: felt bullied and trapped because of influence of MCKENZIE who threatened that she would not get a job anywhere else if she left (interruption to interview). |
