The Nurse Lady is an attempt to document and share the wisdom of a life-long nurse. The author has worked primarily as a school nurse, but also has experience with hospital nursing and in-home personal care. She has also worked with physically and mentally handicapped children which was one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.

Here she shares health tips and stories and hopes that you find some of the information useful.

From the Nurselady’s Mouth:

I have been a registered nurse since 1976, for those poor in math that is 29 years. I have worked various nursing positions. I started out in the medical surgical area of a small rural hospital in Maine. I was there about a week before I was placed in charge of an entire unit. In only a month I was made evening supervisor. When I look back now I shudder at the thought of how little I knew and how much responsibility that had been thrust upon me so in so little time. I am pleased to hear that most hospitals now have a longer orientation period and some type of mentoring program. When an opening came in maternity I jumped at the chance. We rarely had more than three patients at a time and we often were able to stay with the patient throughout labor, delivery and post-partum.

I did hospital nursing for about 6 years until they started “Primary Care Nursing”. I was in a large hospital at this time and they gave me eight patients, four of which required complete bed baths. I had to give the medications, take care of the IV’s, empty and do foley care, along with bed baths and partial baths and any treatments that were needed. I found myself working through lunch and two hours beyond my shift to get everything done (done right), of course without any extra pay.

I had my first child at this point in my career and decided to try occupational health nursing. I worked at a shoe factory and must say I really enjoyed the work. We did work physicals, care for minor injuries, and dealt with Worker’s Compensation claims. If it had not been for my husband’s change of job I would have probably stayed at the position until the plant closed due to a move to South America (cheaper labor).

During our three-year stay in WDC I worked in a health clinic. This too was a very positive experience. I learned to perform venipuncture and became quite good. I was also allowed to leave the clinic to work at a home for runaway girls. I would do health screenings and referrals. This job sparked an interest in working with young people so when we moved to NJ I started looking for a school nursing position.

In 1985 I became a school nurse and have been working in this field ever since. It was one of my students that gave me the name nurselady and it has stuck with me throughout the years. My son suggested I start this website after I cared for him following oral surgery-he told me that I had a wealth of knowledge that he felt others would enjoy sharing-thus Nurselady.org.