| 000'00" |
Tape Identification |
| 000'43" |
Student Nurse Working ConditionsPay was three pounds three and fourpence a fortnight in first year. In second year this went up to three pounds six and eight pence. Board, linen, meals and uniforms supplied. Someone talked about superannuation, 'only thing I heard was that they would take money out of our pay - no way was anyone taking any money out of my pay'. Describes. Paid for own white lisle stockings and white shoes out of salary.
No one grumbled about conditions - 'you just did it'.
Students weren't allowed to be married or live out. Living conditions quite controlled. Describes. |
| 003'21" |
RelationshipsDeveloping relationships not always easy - had to be in by 10 pm. 'Dear friends in HAMILTON would see that I was back home by 10pm'. Describes. Girls did have boyfriends.
One girl couldn't sit finals because got married, she was pregnant. Only a fortnight before exams. This was end of her career. Didn't always hear about these things. Describes. One girl had been married - this was unusual. HAMILTON not a big city - not the same temptations as a big city. Describes.
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| 005'16" |
Recreation/Hospital social life/alcoholHospital basketball team. Mentions. When WAIKATO won the RANFURLY SHIELD it was brought to the NURSES' HOME to be shown off. Describes. Nurses' Christian Group [Nurses' Christian Fellowship]. Mentions.
Few people smoked. 'One of the girls who lived in Auckland, her father made passion fruit wine, she brought a bottle back after one of her excursions - we all drank it'. Describes. As teenagers you didn't drink alcohol.
'I never drank alcohol ..... not that I went out much ….. I seemed to be always studying or going home for a day off'. Describes.
Parents moved to NEW PLYMOUTH - once asked for three days off so could be at home for a whole day - given reluctantly. Describes. |
| 008'21" |
AwardsWAIKATO HOSPITAL didn't have many awards like other hospitals - did have silver medal. Brought in if you worked a year as a STAFF NURSE you could get a HOSPITAL MEDAL. Beryl and one other from her class first to get WAIKATO HOSPITAL MEDAL. Describes. |
| 008'51" |
CareersMost girls left as soon as final examination results came out. Many as soon as sat STATE FINALS. Overseas travel called. Describes. |
| 009'13" |
Support/FriendshipsSat with fellow students, in the laundry of the residence after duties - 'that is where you shared your fears, the good things or talked about the patients or the rest of the staff'. Describes. One patient provided support for nurses with madeira cake and Queen Anne chocolates. 'If on Friday you were looking after Mrs FORSYTHE [patient] you got some chocolates wrapped up in toilet paper'. Beryl didn't like to have anything wrapped in toilet paper - so didn't get her chocolates. Tissues weren't available. Describes.
Very important getting together as a group. This is where friendships developed. Shared birthday celebrations and such. Only socialised with own class, those three months ahead were on different floor. Describes.
Senior nurses' lived in a different residence. Mentions. |
| 011'41" |
Nurses' healthDaily Sick parade. If sick, reported to the HOME SISTER who determined whether went to sick parade. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT, Dr GOULD took sick parade. Needed to be 'pretty sick' to not go to work. Might bring lemon drink to room if needed to stay in room. Describes.' Not encouraged to be sick'. Sore back - 'come back when better and we will see about it'. Describes. |
| 012'47" |
FamilyBoth sisters were teaching. Elder sister six years older and was teaching out of MORRINSVILLE. Middle sister, JACQUI, at teachers' training college while Beryl training to be a nurse. Describes.
Wrote to her Mother every day and she in turn wrote to Beryl every day. Telephoned home once a week. Reflects. Kept communication going, knew what was happening everywhere. Elder sister married and went to America.
Support from parents [now living in NEW PLYMOUTH] was very important to 'keep going'. Reflects. |
| 015'07" |
Becoming a Registered NurseResults came in mail - ' I guess I was quite pleased'. Didn't do anything special - 'hoped that I had got more marks than my friend'. Describes.
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| 016'02" |
GraduationGraduation held in the HOSPITAL dining room. FLORA CAMERON [REGISTRAR of NURSES and MIDWIVES, DEPT of HEALTH], CHAIRMAN of the BOARD, MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT, MATRON, SUB-MATRON attended and family invited. Describes. Medals presented.
Graduation Ball. 'I bought a beautiful dress in CHRISTCHURCH'. Wore to graduation dinner but didn't go to Ball. Describes.
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| 017'34" |
Staff NurseApproach of senior nurses helping juniors continued. Unable to choose ward where worked as a STAFF NURSE. Went to women's surgical - enjoyed this area. Did night duty as a STAFF NURSE for 'the Block'. Describes. |
| 018'40" |
Career optionsMain option after graduation was to complete MATERNITY TRAINING. Chose to stay at WAIKATO HOSPITAL for one year, while applying for MATERNITY TRAINING. Describes. MATERNITY TRAINING [1953] in NEW PYLMOUTH where family living.
Requested holiday from MATRON before moving to NEW PLYMOUTH - 'she had never met such a selfish person in all her life, that I wanted three weeks holiday'. Only one week allowed. 'I didn't argue with her' . Describes.
Many nurses went to do MATERNITY TRAINING - to TIMARU or GISBORNE. Wanted to travel. Describes. Needed MATERNITY to work overseas. |
| 020'11" |
Career/Specialisation'Surgery' choice of nursing area. 'Medical' took longer to 'see results'...'coronary was flat for six weeks ... each week had another pillow until up to six pillows'. Early rehabilitation not a feature. Describes. Post-operative care 'didn't have the urgency'. Describes. |
| 021'54" |
Maternity NursingSix months training and then STATE EXAM. Training included lectures, practical work, case book, deliveries and write up of cases. Describes. Stayed in MATERNITY Nursing for six months after training. |
| 022'55" |
Overseas experience/USAWent to UNITED STATES of AMERICA [1954-1956] where sister lived [MICHIGAN]. Sponsored by AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION (AMA) to be able to work. Difficult to work in USA. AMA gave choice of three hospitals. Chose ANN ARBOR, UNIVERSITY of MICHIGAN HOSPITAL. Work permit required interview by Immigration[USA] and also an interview of sister. Worked there 18 months. Visa renewed every six months. Describes.
Worked in surgical ward. Condition of employment was further training - student surgical course. Describes.
'This is where I first came across University training for nurses'. Three year training with no ward experience for two years. Third year - practical and speciality. There were for these nurses difficulties on graduation with their little practical training, looking after 18 patients when a registered nurse, and supervision of untrained staff. Reflects.
Costs to patients of health care. Bill payment had to be arranged before patient discharged. Explains. University Hospital meant was a referral hospital - very big surgery. Very different from New Zealand. Describes. Everything invoiced to patient. |
| 028'00" |
Return to NZCame back to NZ because third sister in NZ getting married. Both sisters came back to NZ together. Describes |
| 028'21" |
Career/Aucland HospitalApplied to AUCKLAND HOSPITAL BOARD, Miss KIRKNESS [CHIEF NURSE] for a job [1956]. Parents and sisters were living in AUCKLAND. Describes. Started in Ward 17, Women's Surgical and then went to Main Building, Ward 5 - Women's Surgical as SISTER of Ward 5. Didn't need to apply to become WARD SISTER. This was ward that was vacant. Describes.
Surgical techniques changing. Some surgeons better than others - may be bile leaks post-operatively. Describes.
Dr NEWMAN [MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT] visited and declared this 'a very 'old fashioned' ward - antiquated equipment, should be in museum. I didn't like my ward being criticised'. Minimal disposal equipment. Boil-up sterilisers. Describes.
WARD SISTER duties included making sure patients were looked after properly, doctor's rounds, managing the ward, but didn't include rostering of staff.
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| 034'01" |
Postgraduate training/roles followingRequested to do Postgraduate Diploma in WELLIINGTON, 1959. When came back did all sorts of roles, quite a lot of night duty, relieving, AFTERNOON SUPERVISOR with two nurses who didn't talk to each other. 'I was the meat in the sandwich'. Describes.
Had wanted to do Postgraduate course in WELLINGTON because friend doing it , 'and I'd heard about it'. Everyone talking about the course and it seemed to be a good thing. Describes.
Found being an adult (older person) student very different. 'Thinking school was the wrong thought because we had to do the work'. Describes. |
| 036'45" |
Ward 33 Auckland HospitaWARD SISTER, Ward 33, BETTY WONG applied to do 'her pg'. Orderly told Beryl she had been posted to Ward 33 - this was distressing news. Describes. Ward 33, NEURO SURGERY with DONALD McKENZIE [SURGEON]- 'everyone hated Ward 33, it didn't have a good reputation'. Very hard work, heavy patients, and DONALD McKENZIE not easy to work with 'or for'. 'He and DAVID ROBERTSON [SURGEON] didn't talk to one another at all and PHILIP WRIGHTSON [SURGEON] was in the middle of the sandwich'. Wonderful characters. Reflects. DONALD McKENZIE was working out a year's notice. He had very definite ideas of what the WARD SISTER did and didn't do. Not an easy place to work. Had to be there on certain days - 'worked days he said you worked' - meant had same days off each week. Describes. 'One of jobs of WARD SISTER was to carry the fly swot on the ward round ... I refused to do it'. McKENZIE complained that nurses' sometimes didn't recognise him when he came in early in morning. "I said if you give a photo of yourself I will put it on the wall - and he didn't do it.' Complaints stopped. Describes.
Patients may be dying, ' he would say "looks alright"'. Nurses did a lot of support for families. Describes.
WRGHTSON reported that nurses who brought patients from HAMILTON felt neglected - processes changed and nurses [students] bringing patients from outside AUCKLAND were looked after and given information. Reflects. |
| 042'51" |
Waitakere HospitalApplied for position of ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL NURSE, [1974], 'and got into trouble from MARY WALLIS [PRINCIPAL NURSE, AUCKLAND HOSPITAL] because hadn't told her that I had applied'. Had Previously applied unsuccessfully for similar position at AUCKLAND HOSPITAL. Describes. Became PRINCIPAL NURSE [1976 - 1989] at WAITAKERE HOSPITAL when RUTH ANDERSON, MATRON left and went to the AUCKLAND HOSPITAL BOARD Office. Describes.
WAITAKERE HOSPITAL had four geriatric wards and 60 bed obstetric unit. One ward had never been used. CHARGE NURSE of Obstetric unit not pleased to have an 'out-sider' over her. Describes. |
| 044'30" |
Health reformsAfter being 15 years at WAITAKERE HOSPITAL, a MANAGER moved in. Manager announced at a Friday meeting that Beryl’s position 'was becoming surplus to requirement'. Told who would be getting positions, and MANAGER delayed making an appointment to meet Beryl. Reflects. Very unpleasant time.
RON de WIT [CHIEF NURSE, AUCKLAND HOSPITAL BOARD], 'rescued me'. Worked [NURSE ADVISOR – 1989 - 1993] for him and then JOS [JOCELYN PEACH, CHIEF NURSE following RON de WIT] until retirement. Based in 'old' SCHOOL of NURSING at GREENLANE HOSPITAL. Describes. |
| 045'16" |
Career reflectionsBig changes seen in nursing over long career include those in Nursing Education. Appreciates modern nursing knowledge but dismayed at lack of clinical experience during training, 'they don't get the essence of nursing - to do for others what you would do for yourself if you can'. Reflects.
Tremendous changes in patient treatment seen - 'treated as people' and 'a much better working relationship with the other disciplines' - doctors, physiotherapists, dietitians. 'Some of the senior doctors - I'm in charge still'. Much more a team. Reflects.
Introduced 'integrated patient notes' at WAITAKERE HOSPITAL with considerable opposition from WARD SISTER -'but you get a complete picture of the person'. Describes. |
| 047'40" |
NZ Nurses' AssociationInvolved with NZNA from time at AUCKLAND HOSPITAL. Started the GERONTOLOGY Section. Made a life member of NZNA but journal KAI TIAKI is no longer sent. Describes. Went to regular meetings and several conferences. Was an interview panellist for NZNA scholarships and a Trustee for an NZNA group where nurses applied for money. Describes. |
| 049'59" |
Unitec Institute of TechnologyVery involved with setting up the UNITEC SCHOOL of NURSING. On Advisory Committee for a long period and also on COUNCIL of INSITUTE for a period. Made an Honorary Fellow of UNITEC and received an honorary BA [2006]. Describes. Had some influence on way nursing course developed at UNITEC. Supervised exams for nurses STATE FINALS. Describes. |
| 051'06" |
End of interview |
