I Have Stories

The Introduction to life.. Hospital Style

Days as a Candy Striper in the 70’s

Disclaimer: This is not me -same outfit, though

It started when I was a little girl

My mother was often sick with migraine headaches and as the oldest daughter, I always took care of her.

Truth: At every nurse job I ever had..90% of the women I asked were the oldest daughter. The caregiver role usually starts young.

At 14 (how that age was decided is a mystery).. My mother found a Candy Striper Training Program at a local hospital.

I was very shy…. and nervous.. but by that age I knew I had what was referred to as: ‘The Calling’. (A term used for the courageous, dedicated and adored Nurses).

So I began the training..it started slowly and innocently enough. We were vigorously trained to collect the patient’s water pitchers ( They were labeled by wound tape with their names), empty them and load them onto a stainless steel cart. Usually there were 2 of us- and we collected them in rooms with up to 4 patients each. We scooped crushed ice into them and filled them up in their rooms with tap water.

If there was only one of us.. it took awhile due to the many requests that got us sidetracked. Some examples that sent us running for a nurse: “I need a bedpan”, “I need pain medicine” or “I just threw up”.

By the time the pitchers were delivered there was usually some guy yelling for his “GD water”. It could get scary.

Some other duties: Bringing mail to the bedside, or helping the nurses by answering their frantic calls for linen. There never was any on the Linen Cart…. so that meant a dreaded trip to the Laundry.

The Laundry Lady was named Trudy and appeared to be 6 ft tall and very stocky. She was always sweaty and mean. That laundry room was hot. I know she enjoyed making us wait and perspire, while she scrounged up a few sheets and towels.

Another duty was sitting and talking with patients who did not get any visitors. It was sometimes nice, usually sad and sometimes horrifying. Like the one time a small little guy, a jockey at the local racetrack, exposed himself to me with a huge grin.

I never told a soul… I actually was so naive I thought there was a bone in it…..

The group of us kept volunteering and the Nurses and Aides on the floors we were assigned to came to know us and some were so nice and nurturing.

Others, not so much. It was really a mixed bag and all of them worked so hard.

I admired their caps, polished shoes and their crisp white uniforms and panty hose. I wanted to be just like them.

Slowly, the Director and some nurses worked with 2 of us that they thought had the most potential. I had not met the other girl.

At age 16 – we began training as Nurse’s Aides.

But that is another, long story.

Meanwhile, I can say that we became best friends for life and I love her like a sister.