I Knew
Nursing
When …

by Cheryl Wallerstedt,
MS, RNC

©2000, 2001 by AWHONN
Reprinted with permission

I remember …

• when stethoscopes were assigned only to physicians, and nursing stethoscopes were color-coded and called assistoscopes
• when IV containers and syringes were made of glass
• when a fellow student nurse sent a urine specimen to the laboratory via the pneumatic tube system
• when nurses always wore hats, and were reprimanded if those hats were worn outside the hospital
• when team nursing was not a new concept
• when there were three shifts and color-designated charts
• when CQI, QA and so forth were actually nursing care plans with implementation and follow-up
• when mothers in labor always got enemas and complete shaves
• when mothers gave birth to infants and didn't learn the gender of the baby for 24 hours because of being given a drug called "twilight sleep"
• when mothers weren't allowed to hold their babies for hours, sometimes days, after delivery
• when the only breastfeeding pump available was the Harpo (bicycle) pump
• when a mother's breast milk was considered too weak
• when fathers weren't allowed in delivery rooms
• when auscultation was a skill
• when the episiotomy was known as the "husband's stitch"
• when almost every delivery was accompanied by forceps because of general anesthesia
• when pitocin was buccyl pit and was placed under the tongue
• when alcohol was given to stop labor

In some ways "we've come a long way, baby," but as a nurse I still want to envision …

• when every nurse is respected and valued as a professional health team member
• when every hospital will have truly family-centered care
• when every hospital will be mother/baby friendly
• when every mother can move about at will during her labor
• when every mother is empowered in her ability to give birth and to breastfeed
• when the work of parenting is truly appreciated
• when every family has health care
• when every child will be cherished