NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford Recorded: Interviewer: Abstracter: Equipment type: 18 JUN 2013 Debbie Dunsford Debbie Dunsford Fostex FR-2LE Digital Recorder File: 1 of 7 1. Marjorie Crawford, Graduation Day, Waikato Hospital, 1967. 2. L-R, Gertrude Crawford, Marjorie Crawford, John Crawford, Graduation Day, Waikato Hospital, 1967. Photos: W A & M Hansen, 34 Graham Street, Hamilton East. Photo 2 Photo 1 000'05" INTRODUCTION & FAMILY MARJORIE [MARJ] RAE CRAWFORD born MT EDEN, AUCKLAND, on 24 November 1944. Father was JOHN IRVINE CRAWFORD owned a GLASS BUSINESS. Marj's brothers joined father in business. Father had been a (COMMERCIAL) TRAVELLER for R & E TINGEY LTD. Father played OUTDOOR BOWLS and involved in ATHLETICS CLUB, MASONIC LODGE. Mother was GERTRUDE JANE ELLERY, born 26 September 1913. Paternal grandfather born in IRELAND. Maternal family originally from ENGLAND. Mother was a REGISTERED NURSE. Recalls always wanting to be as capable as her mother and thinks desire to be a nurse herself stemmed from that. Family involvement with SCOUTING MOVEMENT. Recalls accident at SCOUT camp at ORERE POINT and mother's NURSING skills. Sister also became a nurse. Mother trained and then worked at AUCKLAND HOSPITAL until her MARRIAGE. Mother involved in AUCKLAND FLORAL SOCIETY, GREYFRIARS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH activities. Family's STANDARD OF LIVING. Describes. Recounts instance of mother's ability to save and being able to purchase a piece of equipment for the family business. Refers SEWING, BOTTLING FRUIT. 009'50" EPSOM GIRLS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL Academic ability. Describes. Refers SCHOOL CERTIFICATE, SPORT, HOUSE CAPTAIN, UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE. Returned to school for the '6A' year (now year 13) 'we all went back for sport mainly. The first time 6A had won any of the sporting competitions'. Describes. Refers HOCKEY, TENNIS, SWIMMING, NETBALL. Left school at 18 years old. Admiration for mother main reason for wanting to become a nurse. Options for girls leaving school were mostly UNIVERSITY, SECRETARIAL, TEACHING or NURSING. Nursing would be a useful career for TRAVEL. Parental support. 018'55" PRELIMINARY SCHOOL, AUCKLAND Began nursing January 1963 at 18 years old. Applied AUCKLAND SCHOOL OF NURSING. Knew some other girls at PRELIMINARY SCHOOL. Rooms at NURSES' 1 NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford HOME 'dark and dreary'. Describes 'stiff, starched cotton' hats. Thinks class all PAKEHA, some from out of AUCKLAND. UNIFORMS. Difficult to change uniforms when a student nurse and go for lunch in 30 minutes. Describes. Refers INFECTION PREVENTION, CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL NURSES' UNIFORM. 028'00" PRELIMINARY SCHOOL Lectures, practical work in mock hospital ward. Refers MRS CHASE (model). On wards, many sisters had very specific requirements and rules. Describes. Choice of hospital after three months. Refers AUCKLAND, GREEN LANE, MIDDLEMORE. 031'40" WARD WORK Recalls being JUNIOR NURSE on CHILDREN'S WARD at PRINCESS MARY BLOCK. Recounts giving a male patient a URINAL for the first time. Comments on CONVIVIAL ATMOSPHERE. Took temperatures. Recalls instance of a nurse putting thermometers in sterilizer. Delivered patient MEALS. Made beds, bed baths, cleaning with chemico or eureka at WAIKATO 'Have you Eureka'ed the bowls?' HIERARCHY of nursing staff supervised the one below. Learned TEAMWORK. Staff nurse did drugs. Ward sister's job was to know about every patient. Compares to current practice. 042'00" CURRICULUM, STUDY AND EXAMS TUTOR SISTERS and CURRICULUM. Expectations seemed too much at times 'but we coped'. EXAMS and STUDY DAYS. 044'45" WAIKATO HOSPITAL Resigned from AUCKLAND and moved to WAIKATO HOSPITAL in first year of training. 'Best thing that ever happened.' Discusses. 'In Hamilton, you had to make your own fun.' Refers FRIENDSHIPS. NURSING HIERARCHY in AUCKLAND out of touch with young nurses. GENERATIONAL SHIFT. Fitted into WAIKATO first year class easily. First unsupervised injection. Describes. [Rain in background] Experience of DEATH. Describes. EMOTIONAL RESPONSE and lack of preparation. First delivery, stillborn baby and lack of support for mother. Describes. Recalls patients at WAIKATO HOSPITAL. Describes. Refers MAORI, GEOGRAPHIC AREA, OBSTETRICS, TB (TUBERCULOSIS). Refers AUCKLAND HOSPITAL, LEPROSY, POLIO(MYELITIS), MRS MEADY, IRON LUNG, SPECIALING, PATIENT-NURSE RELATIONSHIP. Refers long-term TUBERCULOSIS patients at WAIKATO HOSPITAL, farming ACCIDENTS. Recalls MR MOON (ELDERLY MAORI PATIENT) and 'BLACKIE' (young MAORI boy). Both wrote letters to Marj after she left. PATIENT-NURSE RELATIONSHIP. Reduction in STERILISING duties with CSSD (CENTRAL STERILE SUPPLY DEPARTMENT), centralised URINE TESTING, cardboard bedpans. Lifting of patients. Instance of extremely busy NIGHT SHIFT on MEN'S SURGICAL WARD. Had to cope. Refers STAFF NURSE BALDWIN, 'BALDY', NIGHT SNOOP. Describes. FILE ENDS 65 minutes 19 seconds. 2 NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford Recorded: Interviewer: Abstracter: Equipment type: 18 JUN 2013 Debbie Dunsford Debbie Dunsford Fostex FR-2LE Digital Recorder File: 2 of 7 000'05" NURSES' HOME Accommodation in NURSES' HOME. Describes. Refers WAIKATO HOSPITAL, HILDA ROSS BUILDING. Camaraderie and EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. Describes. DINING ROOM and MEALS. Describes. 'Corned beef and cabbage on a Tuesday.' Protocol of standing up if someone more senior than you entered the room. Describes [HIERARCHY, FORMALITY]. LAUNDRY arrangements. Describes. Refers UNIFORMS. Recalls one ward sister who was obsessed with cleanliness. Refers OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER, 'FLUFF'. 007'45" NURSES' HOME Late leave and staying out late. Describes. [Rain in background] Recounts incident where nurse found to be absent. Refers NIGHT SISTER, 'ROBBIE', DISCIPLINE. HOME SISTER was an administrative role. Describes. 'The mother figure'. VISITORS. Family, boyfriends, resident doctors. Describes. Parties at LINDISFARNE, MEDICAL RESIDENCE. Student nurses allowed to go FLATTING from second year with parents' permission. Describes. FILE ENDS 15 minutes 24 seconds. 3 NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford Recorded: Interviewer: Abstracter: Equipment type: 18 JUN 2013 Debbie Dunsford Debbie Dunsford Fostex FR-2LE Digital Recorder File: 3 of 7 000'05" FLATTING Cost of paying RENT shared between four. 'It was like playing house. And it was a good experience for us.' BUDGETING. Describes. Flat burgled twice. Recounts. PARTIES. Recounts using taxi company as an alarm clock for morning shift. Describes TOGA PARTY, HUNT BALLS, NURSES' BALLS, GRADUATION BALLS. Some sewed ball dresses, shared clothes. Describes. 006'05" FRIENDSHIPS GROUP DYNAMICS. Describes. Socialised and went on HOLIDAYS together. Describes. Refers SOUTH ISLAND, WELLINGTON, HUNTERVILLE, WAIHI BEACH, RAGLAN, MORRIE [MORRIS] 8 CAR. Some girls not as sociable. No HOMESICKness because close enough to AUCKLAND to keep contact. 'When I had my 21st, I think half of HAMILTON came to AUCKLAND.' Describes. 010'01" SENIOR NURSES AND DOCTORS Recalls RELATIONSHIPS between trainees and staff nurses. Some WARD SISTERS could be demanding about 'absurd things'. Recalls not being able to leave the ward at end of shift until everything checked. Reflects. WARD RELATIONSHIP with DOCTORS. Difference NIGHT and DAY DUTIES. Does not recall MALE NURSES during training. 014'11" SOCIAL LIFE Went regularly to POLO at CAMBRIDGE, HUNT BALLS. Parties at 'OHAUPO ROAD' (their flat). Refers WATSON FAMILY. Describes wider social group and ongoing relationships. Went to the PUB. Thinks drank LAGER, SHANDY, SHERRY. ALCOHOL not important to them. Some drunkenness. Recalls NIGHT DUTY NURSE in a RESTHOME in AUCKLAND with an ALCOHOL problem. SHOPPING in AUCKLAND. Recalls buying coat 'on appro'. Coffee bars in HAMILTON, occasional meals at a hotel dining room. No trouble keeping up with AUCKLAND friends. Recalls how kept in touch over years. 025'21" HOSPITAL EVENTS CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGING. Describes. Refers CHRISTMAS CAROLS, PARTY, LINDISFARNE, MATRON, PATIENTS. CHRISTMAS DAY. Describes. [Rain in background] 028'56" SMOKING Every nurse and doctor smoked. Recounts learning to smoke with a packet of 4 NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford PETER STUYVESANT cigarettes. Refers PEER PRESSURE, HABIT. Could not smoke in UNIFORM. No awareness of HEALTH CONCERNS. 031'41" BOYFRIENDS AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS Not so much pressure for SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS. Recalls INNOCENCE at the time. STEADY BOYFRIEND visited regularly from AUCKLAND. Describes. ENGAGEMENTS during training and some left nursing. Describes. [Rain in background] Not aware of LESBIAN RELATIONSHIPS between nurses. FILE ENDS 36 minutes 03 seconds 5 NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford Recorded: Interviewer: Abstracter: Equipment type: 18 JUN 2013 Debbie Dunsford Debbie Dunsford Fostex FR-2LE Digital Recorder File: 4 of 7 000'05" INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS Recalls some conjecture about LESBIAN RELATIONSHIP between SENIOR NURSES who lived together. No rules about sharing bedrooms. Reasons for leaving nursing during training could include PREGNANCY. Discusses class attrition rate at WAIKATO HOSPITAL. 003'20" SPORT Continued to play SPORT but team sports could be difficult. Refers HOCKEY, TENNIS, SQUASH. Recalls SWIMMING SPORTS at AUCKLAND HOSPITAL, SWIMMING POOL at WAIKATO HOSPITAL. Played INDOOR BASKETBALL at YMCA or YWCA. Describes. 005'30" CHURCH Attended CHURCH occasionally. Some nurses were very active CHRISTIANS. 006'09" SICKNESS HOME SISTER, SICK BAY. Relates incident where two faked injuries. Attended SICK PARADE and DEPUTY MATRON, [AILSA] McCUTCHEON drove them home to flat. Feelings of letting people down. If very sick, nurses admitted to a ward. 010'45" NURSES' ASSOCIATIONS Not part of STUDENT NURSES' ASSOCIATION and no real awareness of REGISTERED NURSES' ASSOCIATION while training. 011'25" PAY Reads from Service Record. Staff Nurse's rate 1,960 pounds per annum (1964-1967). Staff Sister's rate $3,555 per annum (1970-1972). St Helen's Student Midwife $4,171 per annum. $6,862 per annum (1978). $15,000 per annum (1981). Never worried about not having sufficient money. Accepted pay as part of nursing. 015'30" FINAL EXAM Determined to pass final EXAM. GRADUATION CEREMONY at WAIKATO HOSPITAL. FILE ENDS 16 minutes 47 seconds. 6 NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford Recorded: Interviewer: Abstracter: Equipment type: 25 JUN 2013 Debbie Dunsford Debbie Dunsford Fostex FR-2LE Digital Recorder File: 5 of 7 000'05" WORKING HOURS Worked hard and for long hours. SHIFTS and rosters. Short changes. Describes. Received 5 pounds per week. Seemed sufficient. Describes. OBSTETRIC training at CORNWALL HOSPITAL within PRELIMINARY TRAINING. Describes. Refers PERINEAL WASHES. MEN'S SURGICAL WARD. Describes. Refers 'soap and water enemas', 'collies' [CHOLECYSTECTOMY], PROSTATECTOMY. 007'25" FINAL EXAM Recounts ward experience of friend who had passed final examination. Staff nurse removed her own epaulets and gave them to friend to wear for the duty. Refers VON [YVONNE WOODWARD]. After qualified became aware of how much they did not know. 009'37" GRADUATION Recalls GRADUATION CEREMONY and GRADUATION BALL. Describes. Refers JOE MEAD (MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT), RIVERLEA RECEPTION LOUNGE, BLACKBERRY NIP, SCREWDRIVER, PIMMS, HORSE'S NECK, LINDISFARNE. 014'30" WORK AS A STAFF NURSE Worked at WAIKATO HOSPITAL after graduating. Agreed to do NIGHT DUTY. Sleep. Describes. Refers NIGHT SNOOP, INTENSIVE CARE. Worked PAEDIATRIC and MEN'S ORTHOPAEDIC WARD. Left after one year and travelled to ENGLAND. DUTIES as STAFF NURSE. Opportunity for initiative. Describes. Refers TRAUMA CASES, ROAD ACCIDENTS, EQUIPMENT, INTENSIVE CARE. Reasons for nurses leaving after graduation. Describes. 022'42" TRAVEL TO AND WORK IN ENGLAND Describes TRAVEL to ENGLAND with or to meet other nurses. Refers SS NORTHERN STAR, TAHITI. WORK in ENGLAND. Refers GLOUCESTERSHIRE, LONDON. PRIVATE NURSE WORK. A 'glorified granddaughter' to an older couple. Describes. Refers CANCER, JAPANESE ART, RUSSIAN, EGYPTIAN, VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, MRS HARARI. Flat in CLAPHAM. 'It took weeks to pluck up the courage to tell Mother and Father I was in a mixed flat.' Describes. Wrote aerogram to parents weekly. PAY. Trips to EUROPE. Refers HOLLAND, GREECE, TURKEY, LUXEMBOURG. AGENCY NURSING. Recalls instance of poor equipment in a private clinic. Refers INTENSIVE CARE. ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, HAMPSTEAD. Describes work. Refers TAPE WORM, CHOLECYSTECTOMY. Reflects on premonitions of DEATH. Refers [ELIZABETH] KUBLER-ROSS. 7 NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford REPUTATION of NZ NURSES in ENGLAND. Describes. 040'53" WORK IN NZ Returned NZ in 1970. Worked in MEDICAL UNIT, Ward 4, in AUCKLAND HOSPITAL. Aware of DRUG USE in ENGLAND and became interested in that area of work. Describes. Refers HEROIN, NARCOTICS, DOPE, POLICE FORCE, DRUG SQUAD, SOCIAL PROBLEMS, SEXUAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE. STAFF SISTER in MEDICAL UNIT. Refers PROF NORTH, DIALYSIS, RENAL FAILURE, MAORI, PACIFIC ISLANDERS. Describes DIALYSIS equipment and treatment. 050'30" MIDWIFERY TRAINING, ST HELEN'S HOSPITAL MIDWIFERY TRAINING for 6 months at ST HELEN'S HOSPITAL, MT ALBERT, then worked there for 6 months. Also enrolled UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND for BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE. Describes how able to study and work. MIDWIFERY TRAINING enjoyable because mothers not usually sick. Structure of MIDWIFERY TRAINING. Describes. Difficulty of being a STUDENT NURSE again. 'No delivery is normal until after the event.' Enjoyed working with MIDWIVES. Recalls satisfaction of giving better knowledge of birth process to a mother. Recalls no MATERNAL DEATHS but some STILLBIRTHS. Recalls STILLBIRTH while training and felt as a student she was not able to deal adequately with the mother. EMOTIONAL RESPONSES. 059'08" STUDY FOR DEGREE Studied SOCIOLOGY part-time out of interest. Went full-time one year. Refers EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY. Describes. 060'55" CATHEDRAL DRUG CLINIC, CARRINGTON HOSPITAL Law change meant GENERAL PRACTITIONERS could not prescribe METHADONE to known DRUG ADDICTS. Had to register at DRUG CLINIC. PUBLIC AWARENESS of DRUG ADDICTION. MEDIA and POLICE attitudes to DRUG ADDICTION different to those of people working with individual addicts. Refers REGISTERED NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, DR FRASER MCDONALD. Describes work. Refers PETHADINE, RITALIN, HEROIN, MORPHINE. Explains properties of METHODONE. About 250 addicts at one stage. From all sections of society. Describes. WELFARE. [Phone rings] FILE ENDS 67 minutes 44 seconds. 8 NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford Recorded: Interviewer: Abstracter: Equipment type: 25 JUN 2013 Debbie Dunsford Debbie Dunsford Fostex FR-2LE Digital Recorder File: 6 of 7 000'05" CATHEDRAL DRUG CLINIC, CARRINGTON HOSPITAL Some opposition to clinic by neighbours. Recounts incident when clinic and chemist shop broken into. Refers NEWMARKET, POLICE. Role and duties at clinic. Describes. Refers FRASER MCDONALD, CARRINGTON HOSPITAL. In dealing with addicts, 'you really had to be tough. You had to have a warm heart and a tough head'. Background of some DRUG ADDICTS. Discusses. 006'27" PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE, PONSONBY PONSONBY area a PUBLIC HEALTH challenge in 1970s. Describes. Refers HOUSING, PACIFIC ISLAND PEOPLE, MAORI, TB (TUBERCULOSIS), J-TEAM (JUVENILE), SCHOOL CLINICS, PLUNKET. Marj always referred to AUCKLAND office of DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH as 'the Kremlin' (the BLEDISLOE BUILDING, WELLESLEY STREET). Marj's PUBLIC HEALTH work written about in NZ HERALD. Reflects on value of the work. Reasons for leaving. Describes. 012'15" SOCIAL WORKER, ST HELEN'S HOSPITAL Became SOCIAL WORKER at ST HELEN'S HOSPITAL. Reflects on range of skills. Refers OBSTETRICS, SOCIAL ISSUES, DRUG ADDICTS. Babies being born to DRUG ADDICTS. Describes. 015'05" BACHELOR OF SOCIOLOGY Year of full time STUDY in 1978. Graduated 1980. Received FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AWARD to help with study costs. Juggling study and work. Describes. 018'30" ODYSSEY HOUSE Worked at DRUG CLINIC in GREAT NORTH ROAD. Search for alternatives to METHODONE treatment for DRUG ADDICTS. ODYSSEY HOUSE programme. Describes visit to SYDNEY. Refers DR JUDIANNE DENSON-GERBER, CAMPBELLTOWN, NEW YORK. 'I came back to Auckland absolutely bursting with enthusiasm and information'. Battle and personal commitment to establish ODYSSEY HOUSE in AUCKLAND as a 'drug-free therapeutic community'. Describes. Refers FRASER MCDONALD, ODYSSEY HOUSE TRUST. Attended International Directors' Retreat. Refers NEW YORK, DETROIT, UTAH. Started in rented house at ROSE ROAD, GREY LYNN. DRUG ADDICTS quickly came. Recounts story of urine samples being swapped. GOVERNMENT FUNDING eventually. Describes. Refers HEALTH DEPARTMENT, JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, JIM MCLAY, ST STEPHEN'S AVENUE. Local opposition to location. Describes. Ongoing funding could be difficult. Refers SOCIAL WELFARE (now WINZ). ASB (TRUST) gave $1 million to buy house. Refers BOLLARD ROAD, MT EDEN ROAD. Marj was DIRECTOR. Benefits of having ex-addicts working with addicts. Describes. 9 NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford Structure of ODYSSEY HOUSE programme. Successes and failures. Describes. Refers JUDIANNE DENSON-GERBER, We mainline dreams. Refers 'P', COCAINE, ALCOHOL, AA (ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS), NA (NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS). 034'45" NURSE, MT EDEN PRISON Exhausted by work at ODYSSEY HOUSE. Many drug-abusing inmates at MT EDEN PRISON. Difficulties with prison staff. Recounts incident of prisoner protecting Marj. Left after six months. Refers METHODONE, MEDICAL UNIT. 039'32" ONGOING WORK / AUT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING Fill-in work in locum PUBLIC HEALTH, TAKAPUNA. Period of not working. Played GOLF. Enrolled at AUT to do bridging PSYCH course for comprehensive nurse qualification. 'It was an absolute waste of time.' Already had SOCIOLOGY degree but received no credit. Qualification needed in order to return to work at DRUG CLINIC. Describes. Retired and played GOLF. 044'35" MEDICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS PROJECT MANAGER/NURSE for PROMISE STUDY (POSSIBLE ROLE OF MELATONIN IN SLEEP OF THE ELDERLY). Describes aspects of study. Refers NORTH SHORE (HOSPITAL), GERIATRIC UNIT, PHIL WOOD, JONATHAN BASKETT, JO BROAD. QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE NEW ZEALAND PROJECT. Refers PETER DAVIS. Travelled to different hospitals and looked at randomly-selected charts to look for adverse events. Describes, Refers WHANGAREI, AUCKLAND HOSPITAL, MIDDLEMORE, GISBORNE, WAIKATO, WELLINGTON, WAKEFIELD HOSPITAL. 051'15" NURSE, NORTH SHORE HOSPICE Challenging but rewarding work. Describes. Refers GOODFELLOW PAPERS, PALLIATIVE CARE. 053'00" REGISTERED NURSES' ASSOCIATION / KAI TIAKI Has not kept up membership throughout. Has regarded her role more broadly than as a REGISTERED NURSE. [Phone rings] FILE ENDS 54 minutes 49 seconds. 10 NERF Nursing Oral History Project 1950s/1960s Abstract Marjorie Crawford Recorded: Interviewer: Abstracter: Equipment type: 25 JUN 2013 Debbie Dunsford Debbie Dunsford Fostex FR-2LE Digital Recorder File: 7 of 7 000'04" FINAL REFLECTIONS Changes in NURSING TRAINING and NURSING PRACTICE over time. Enjoyed working in community rather than in hospitals. Describes. Reasons for becoming a nurse and reflections on career path. Describes. Career highlights would be ODYSSEY HOUSE and FRIENDSHIPS made. FILE and INTERVIEW ENDS 5 minutes 57 seconds. 11