Foot N Mouth Disease

After gaining my B.N. I wasn't sure which specialty was right for me.
I went to work in Theatre (surgery) in a Catholic hospital in northern Queensland.
This was an eyeopener to me, as much of the language from the staff during the operations, was less than desirable.
I said nothing,and neither did I laugh at some of the grouse jokes being told.
One morning after I'd been there for a few weeks, there was a lull in the conversation. 

A radio played softly for a time and then one of the surgeons asked me.
"So Crystal, how come you went to the Catholic University?"  (It was hundreds of miles away from this town.)  
What does one answer to a question like this?
The reason, the real reason I had gone there was because the nursing program was known as the best.
However, now that the question was put to me during the middle of a patient having their veins stripped, I was taken by surprise.
So I answered quietly, "Well,..... maybe I am an ex-nun?"
Silence... complete silence followed my statement.
They were all stunned with shock!
Here they were in a Catholic hospital, swearing and telling inappropriate jokes, and I had heard them!
Before I could say it was just a joke, they all began to apologies to me.
"Crystal, I'm so sorry," said the head nurse.
One of the doctors told me, "I go to church every Sunday."
One by one, they gave me a glowing report of themselves.

How could I deflate their ego's?
So I said nothing, I kept silent.
My life became one of a celebrity....
All sorts of goodies came into our staff dining room to share around, and all because of me.

After a few more weeks I decided this wasn't my forte`.
So I left there to go back to Brisbane (our Capitol) and The Royal Brisbane Hospital.
Here I completed a Post Graduate Degree in Mental Health in conjunction with Queensland University of Technology..
I'm sure the staff in that other hospital never ever forgot the bomb that dropped one day in theatre, when they least expected it.

 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Ephesians 5:3-5

                                                  Crystal R.N.  and   Friend  (University facilitator)

Looking Back

As I get older I look back on what I may or may not have enjoyed at the time, and see it with different eyes.
Age breeds wisdom, I realise I should have enjoyed those times more.

As a young seventeen year old I entered hospital trained nursing.
It was a huge Sydney hospital and very daunting.
The wards were known as nightingale wards. They were long with many beds.
This was one of the female wards from that time, in the very same hospital.

In this picture are two trainee nurses and one N.S.W. nursing Sister.

When Sister spoke you listened with eyes down and head bowed.

Hands were to be behind your back. (see pic)

I had a hard time with this as I am a laugher.

But disciple was the answer and one dared not, even smile.

The nurses in the photo above had hair showing from their cap.

My Tutor Sister forbid that.

Patients often asked me what colour my hair was.

I was never recognised out in public..

That dreaded cap. I still feel the terror of it.
Starched as stiff as a board, it ruined a young girls dream of looking stylish.
And....you never considered arguing or refusing to wear it.

   The class rooms were situated in the basement of the multi-story nurses quarters. 
The Tutor Sister was a fully trained registered nurse teacher, and ran the course in military fashion.

I refused to have a photo taken in my uniform. (not compulsary)
This is a deep regret today as nursing has changed so much and those yesteryear days are now history.

Graduation was four years down the track. This was when you received the veil of honour.
Now you were no longer called nurse. Your professional title became Sister.

The Queensland/Victoria veil      (Sister unknown)

Me (17) pictured at rear, with student nurse Shane on days off.

This photo was taken with a little Kodak flash camera.

Relaxing at the side of the nurses quarters.

Tennis courts and hospital are in the background. 

Of course nursing has changed somewhat now.

It went from being a certificate course, to a diploma and finally a degree.

I eventually went on to University and attained my B.N. in Australia.

(Three years full time Uni, and One year mentored new grad for first time nurses)

I sat Boards in the USA and equalled the BSN. 

Today in Australia we still wear a hospital uniform, but no cap.

R.N.'s here are gradually being called by their first names.

Some of us oldies, are still known as Sister.

AND, I believe the best medicine of all, is laughter.

                           "A cheerful heart is good medicine,
                        but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
                                             Proverbs 17:22
     
                          
                            Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects.
                                              ~Arnold Glasow~

NUN Too Many (The funniest thing I have seen lately)

I have received a challenge from Peggy at http://dayofthelily.blogspot.com/
For, The Funniest Thing I Have seen lately.

Actually, it is not lately, but I reminisced on this, having a good laugh with a friend yesterday.

NUN Too Many
While studying at the Australian Catholic University I was sent on assignement to work in a Catholic Hospital in far north Queensland.
My mentor at the time was a much younger obnoxious nurse who bullied everyone, including the doctors.
It was a busy day in Surgery, I had been runner for the first operation and now I was Scrub Nurse.
As time progressed the language from all became more torrid, with swearing, dirty joking and soft laughter. I remained in stunned silence,  intent on the job at hand.
When a lull came in the conversation the Surgeon asked me.
"Well Crystal, how come your from The Catholic University?"
I was momentously lost for words.....
Was I suppose to crack a joke? ...I wasn't sure ?
Then suddenly I blurred out.
Well...... Maybe..... I'm an ex-Nun!
Dead Silence....
There is nothing in the world..... as quiet as silence!
My heart thumped, my face flushed red! and was I ever glad to be wearing a face mask.
I knew I had to own up I was only joking......... I couldn't look at anyone for a moment. And when I finally did, I saw stunned SHOCK!
Time Stood Still!
The faces on that professional staff was the closest I have seen to Fright!
I'd put the fear of God into the lot of them.

The obnoxious R.N. was the first to recover....
"Oh Crystal, I'm so sorry for anything I have said or done wrong, please forgive me!" she flustered.
The other four staff also began to appologise for their language and crude jokes.

"I'm a Catholic," one stammered.                                                            

"I go to church," admitted another..

I smiled to myself....God has a sense of humour, so who was I to disallusion?                 

So I kept the secret to myself, and life in Surgery, while I was present, became much more tolerable.

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm19:14)

Values and Beliefs

Study in a University to become a Registered Nurse in Australia is Three years of full time learning. Following this you are often placed with a facilitator for your first year out working in a hospital. 
During this learning time other subjects are part of the curriculum.
One of mine was philosophy. And I loved it. 
My primary Alma Mater was The Australian Catholic University.
I wanted to take a minor in theology, however when I discovered I would be told what meant what in the Bible, I opted out. The reason for this being...I believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Because of this I also believe God's Word as truth. We are informed in the Bible that Jesus left the Holy Spirit as our teacher, and as such, He has never let me down.
He is a patient teacher also, because, I am still a student to Him, and still learning. I expect to keep on doing this until the day He takes me home.  
When we love someone dearly we want to learn everything possible about them. We are not happy to only listen to someone else tell us about them, if we can get the chance to know for ourselves first hand. 
How many of you would pick up a diary of your beloved and read it to learn all their secrets....if you had the chance.
A New Testament, the diary telling all about Jesus Christ is readily available everywhere, yet how many who actually profess to know and love him, desire to read it???
Mostly they are happy to sit in church and listen to another's rendition. 
I cannot understand this!! 
In fact, many don't even know what they think they do, they just believe what they hear without the EVIDENCE....
  
And the first Christian faith followed by the disciple's was
The Sect of the Nazarene... Paul, who was once a Pharisee, became one of these himself. 

Three verses in total are written on Paul as being a part of

the Sect of the Nazarene.

Three of the main Jewish Sects (Religions) of Jesus time were. Sadducee's, Pharisees and Essenes.

These religions had different belief's and fought over what they believed. Paul was a strict Pharisee who experienced a life changing event which caused him to become a follower of Jesus. He then converted and became a member of the 'Sect of the Nazarene.' 

Paul is brought before the governor Felix charged by the Jews as a trouble maker because he followed Jesus....

To follow Jesus means to know him in a personal relationship..

                                               

                                                    

                                                           
                                                             

FIFTIES 'SEPIA CHILD'

Aged 4

A very shy country child, I attended a two teacher, twenty pupil school.

The building was a sturdy timber highset, built in the late 1800 era.

My mother did very well as a single parent, working to making sure all of her 5 children completed their schooling. This was no mean feat on a ‘woman’s’ wage.
I dreamed of being a dancer, although I knew it was an impossibility.
In High School I poured over Ballet books with a dreamy mind, and dotted on the likes of Dame Margot Fonteyn.... I was that lithe dancer on stage with the magic legs performing ‘Swan Lake’.

                                                         Aged 16
Passing the Intermediate Certificate in High school was all that was required in my time to attain a promising career. To be a doctor or lawyer meant 2 extra years and a pass in the Leaving Certificate. Since my chances as a dancer were extinct, my next choice was Hairdressing.
This was not to be either as my demurer nature simply did not suit.
So my mother decided I should follow the family tradition of Nursing.

                  Training at the 'Royal' (behind) aged 17                                               

Hospital Training was Nursing School and a Tutor Sister with Regimental Education.
A cap completely covered the hair. The uniform fell to mid calf length.
Stockings were worn and the back seams checked to be straight.
A petticoat underneath was a must (and Sister always checked).
Feet were clad in plain brown mid-heeled leather lace ups, well shone.
Discipline……. You had no opinion and NEVER answered back!
Eyes were kept down, and hands remained behind your back whenever spoken to by a superior.


It was a fitting choice and has stood me in good stead.
Years later I attended Uni and gained my Degrees.
My Primary Alma Mater is The Australian Catholic University.

                                                               
                                                         
Proverbs 3: 5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And don’t rely on your own understanding.”