We entered the three year Psychiatric Nursing Program at the Saskatchewan Hospital, North Battleford in 1956. Evelyn Bertrand, Lorraine’s sister, was presently in her second year of training. She suggested that it was a good opportunity to gain a professional as well as obtain employment. The pay was something like $100 per month. This was awesome!
The initial adjustment towards our duties and responsibilities were a bit terrifying, but the Supervisors and staff were good role models and very supportive, even if we did feel slightly intimidated.
Lorraine’s first assigned ward was 7X and Marions’ 5B. We quickly learned the the work was both gratifying and intriguing at the same tie. One never knew what would happen. We were always looking over our shoulders and carried our keys close to our belts. Needless to say we would frequently have a few altercations on bath days.
Marion recalls the early morning bath lists on 5B and quickly realized the the importance of teamwork was inevitable in order to complete the task on time. During the first three month of adapting to the new job situation, Marion remembers how she lost fifteen pounds and was close to quitting. She was determined to graduate and stayed to complete her training.
In her fist 6 months of training, Lorraine remembers she was required to give her first intramuscular injection to a patient. The patient was agitated and extremely thin in build. She notes that there was no prior practice to the injection. The needle was long and hit bone very quickly; an experience she notes will always be felt. She notes that working on Parole was very scary and that they used to lock themselves in the office and only went out to do rounds when another staff came to receive them.
The treatments used in this period were straight ECT,Insulin Therapy, Chemotherapy which was mainly Largactil, anti convulsants, which was orally or parenterally administered.
We often took patients for long walks always counting them on way out and in. The area around the hospital was meticulously maintained and very beautiful, so it was a pleasure to go walking.
Going through the tunnels was another memory that we will never forget. We had to go quickly as there was always a possibility that one would get frightened by staff or patients. Walking past the morgue was the worst place for our imagination.
Being present at our first teaching autopsy was a very humbling experience, as well as observing brain surgery (removal of a tutor) through a small window of the OR.
Lorraine recalls liking the medical wards. There was always things to do; preparing the syringes for autoclaving washing bed pans and doing bed that’s. The OR was a very sterile place to work. One could not make any mistakes and we hade to be on “our toes at all times. Our duties were mainly counting dirty laundry and cleaning OR utensils. Both very important and always completed by every shift.
Marion found the rotation on the medical wards 2B, 3B and the Insulin Treatment wards and rewarding learning experience. She notes she worked with a great team of nurses there. The supervisors and doctors were highly respected by the staff. We were taught to stand at attention in their presence.
Lectures were taken after the days work. We were often ready to collapse but found a second wind to continue taking notes. We got up in the middle of our sleep during the day to attend lectures, when working nights. Often we ended up going to work on only a few hours of sleep.
Halfway through the first year, we had a Caping Ceremony. We were very proud to have received our caps and felt like reals nurses. The last year was for the development of psychiatric nursing - seminars, admissions and case study assignments. All supervision was done by senior staff and the Nursing Office. We graduated in 1959. Shortly after by Marion, Jacqui Detroit and I packed up everything we owned ant travelled ship to England to work. Many other locations of work followed over the years.
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