Part 4 - Nurse Tutor! 1989-1993

Becoming a Nurse Teacher

December 1989

West Glamorgan School of Nursing

Morriston School of Nursing

And so the day came, a final shift in ITU, I walked out from there into a new life, a new beginning that would take to places I had never imagine as a young man.  

Just days later I walked into the School of Nursing - the most junior Nurse Lecturer you could possibly imagine. Nurse Education at that time was not yet integrate with Higher Education, that would happen several years later. Thus I was still an NHS employee. The Morriston Hospital School of Nursing Building was by any description a building out of the Ark.  A World War 2 remnant, a Prefab or perhaps extended Portacabin that had been added to and developed over decades as part of the old hospital. It was thus best describe as shabby and rather eccentric, contrasting with the state of the art new hospital buildings that were springing up all around it. 

I was quickly timetabled to an extensive 'Orientation" programme that would take me up to the Christmas break. Christmas Break!!!! I had not had Christmas off for nearly 10 years. I was soon to realise that the Nurse Teachers an Staff in the School were no less eccentric than the Building itself. There was the Senior Tutor, Beryl. She sat in her little office with a small Scottie dog at her heals, and she chain smoked. She nevertheless ruled with a rod of iron, both her staff and students. There was Tony Catania, a tall rather eccentric man, puffing on an old fashioned pipe that billowed a foul smoke. I shared an office with another new Tutor, Jane Thomas, who would become a life long friend, our careers and ascendancy running parallel.  

And there were others, Faye, Eve, Graham, Margaret, Kay. Of each of these I could hold forth at length. I know them all to this day of writing in 2016. Our paths have run their own routes, and yet we all set out from the School of Nursing in 1989.

And so I set out on my journey as a Nurse Teacher. Like so many things in life I was beset with many "1st's". My 1st lesson, my 1st Tutorial, my 1st marking.......

In 1989 

Massive protests and either side of the Berlin Wall bring about the collapse of the East German Government and the Berlin Wall is breached and eventually dismantled and The Brandenburg Gate opened

Thousands of Students occupy Tiananmen Square in Beijing China protesting for democracy , Chinese Government Declares martial law and Hundreds of Demonstrators are killed

Nintendo releases the Game Boy in Japan in April 1989

And in North America in July

First release of Microsoft Office.

1990

And now I must move on. My baptism into the world of the Nurse Teacher was accompanied by many other life events.  

Working Monday to Friday was a revelation - well at least to start with. I was soon to discover that teaching was NOT like Off Duty.... Technically it is 9 till 5 - but of course it is not. I remember planning my 1st lesson (The Lymphatic System...) - it took me hours - over the weekend! Ad marking! endless evenings and weekends marking. 

And my life was full of other developments - my family was growing, expanding and enriching. 

Tom now attending Dunvant Junior School - so lovable walking down the path with his Ninja Turtle Lunch Box. And Sam - growing, and so beautiful - and so funny. 

Then there was a sunny morning - and we set off to take Tommy to School. Jan paused, looked at me outside of the house. "Be nice to have one more" she said. And so the it was. And 9 months later a little "Robert" burst into my life - to complete my young family - 3 sons - I was blessed (and just a little tired).

And then there were new developments. The Director of Nurse Education DNE (John Evans) called me to his office. Would I like to go to Cardiff University for 2 Years full time to do a Degree in Education (B.Ed) - on mu current salary, fully funded and all expenses paid. I paused for a fraction of a second - and then gratefully accepted the opportunity.

And so in September 1990 I commenced a B.Ed at Cardiff University. More often than not I only needed to attend 3 days a week, and I had all the academic holidays. It was like a dream come true. I travelled in a car share with my colleague Jane Thomas, sealing our long term friendship. My personal Tutor was a garrulous academic call Roy Nolan. He nurtured my Tutorial Group - a diverse group of prospective educationalists from a diversity of professions. 

In 1990

The Gulf war begins after Saddam Hussein accuses Kuwait of stealing oil from Iraq. Iraq invades Kuwait and the US send half a million soldiers to defend Saudi Arabia against invasion.

South African antiapartheid activist, Nelson Mandela is freed after spending 27 years as a political prisoner.

• Germany is Reunited

Hubble Telescope Launched Into Space

1991

This was a time of 'Learning' - so much was new and different. I was giving lessons, and going to educational placements that were changing the world I experienced. - I spent 3 months at the then Bridgend School of Nursing. Later I would spend time at Tycho College in Swansea, and Olchfa Secondary School where later all my three sons would later attend as pupils. 

During the academic holidays, and when not writing endless essays, I did some Agency Nursing to supplement our income.  Plodding around the Nursing homes of Swansea ensured my fundamental nursing skills were fresh and grounded.  At this time Jan undertook a Conversion Course to convert her from SEN to SRN, hesitantly all the way she succeeded - and I remember so well the look of shock on her face the day she got that result. She was doing many different nursing jobs at that time - and between us life was hectic - but also so rewarding...

In 1991

The Soviet Union is dissolved and the 15 separate republics (including Russia) are now independent

• South Africa Repeals Apartheid Laws

1992

With some amazement I passed my Degree in Education - and I could now call myself a Graduate. I returned to full time work as a Nurse Lecturer in Back to College of Nursing - now an integrated part of the Swansea University. I was employed by a University - who could have imagined it!!!

Initially I returned to the Morriston Portacabin - and shortly after I had my base on the main campus. And then on to the Parc Beck site (long since gone). I shared an office with a lovely lecturer- Lillian Carthew. We were good friends and had lots of good laughs. I was teaching not only Pre-Registration Nurses but was now also bestowed the responsibility of managing a part time Post Registration Degree in Nursing. This programme ran at occasional weekends throughout the year - and added to my growing experience of curriculum and programme design. I had my first work computer - and I was given an Email Account - all the stuff of Science Fiction!

In addition - it was at this time that I was asked to give some input into a newly franchised  RCN Nurse Practitioner Diploma. Renate Thome and Sue Jordan were key members of this small team - and I was to work with them both for many years to come. I had initially no idea what a Nurse Practitioner was - but I was to learn - and this would set me on a career pathways that would lead to me having an international reputation for scholarship and publication on "Advanced Practice"

In 1992

• Bosnian Genocide Begins

• Official End of the Cold War

1993

A time of Stability, Challenge, Change and New Foundations.

I was enthused - perhaps ambitious, but had no set map or plan - the future would be what it would be. 

We were comfortable in our house in Swansea. The children were growing. We had jobs, prospects, money.

We were a Family...........

In 1993

• Use of the Internet Grows Exponentially

• World Trade Centre is Bombed

AND IN 1993 - IN A FIT OF MADNESS

 I STARTED MY MASTERS DEGREE!

Part 4 - A Leap into a new Future - 1987-1988

Part 4

A LEAP OF FAITH INTO A NEW FUTURE

1987-1988

----------

IT IS NOW 1987

And I am living in Wales, and learning what "Being Welsh" was all about. Wales was a very different place to Camberwell in South London. Carmarthen was a pretty market town in South Wales, and Jan and I were living in nice new 2 bedroomed semi detached half way up the south facing hill. 

Tom went to Nursery and School, and my Mother passed away. Jan and my little son were my Family now.

A new house - 19 Bryn Gorwel

It was a short drive to the city centre, and the covered market with its diversity of rural goods. Carmarthen was filled with a mix of people, Welsh accents abounded, and some many spoke Welsh. There were the young and old, Hippies and Farmers, Shopkeepers and Factory Workers, Doctors and Nurses, a great mix of people as would be found anywhere side by side  - all living surrounded the lush green Towy Valley. 

And there was Glangwilli District General Hospital ITU. A newly fitted unit. And I was working there, fresh from the major trauma unit at Kings and having completed the ENB100 Intensive Care course. The equipment and beds were state of the art, the level of clinical expertise below the standard I was used to. It was all a bit of a shock. 

There were many patients, many families. A joy to see so many recover, a sadness to see some pass. I quickly discovered that I was now becoming a senior staff nurse, with many of my colleagues turning to me and asking for advice. 

The trials of Off Duty, Child Care and Income was met by Jan doing Bank work. Jan found herself working across Carmarthen in a variety of care settings. We were ships passing in the night as we were in London.   

Again, despite my vow to never do any more "Education" I applied for a 3 year Diploma in Nursing a the Swansea Institute in Mount Pleasant. Janet Skiffins was an inspiration and eccentric course leader, Colin Rees a teacher who opened the world of theoretical humanities to me, and the formidable Susan Jordan taught Anatomy  Physiology to a personal new depth. Ironically, many years later when I was to be a leader of a University Department, Dr Jordan would be a key member of my senior research staff.   I do believe that the Diploma in Nursing finally jump started my academic ability - I began to thing critically for the 1st time and learned to write fluently.  My Brain began to work!!!

I had new new friends, from work and college. I was making new connections, and developing new networks.....

And now a new son burst into my world - Sam. Little Sam was a lovely baby, and he brought new light into my life. Later in his life he would be beset with many problems - but of that I will come to later.

In 1987

The Worlds Population reaches 5 billion

Margaret Thatcher was re-elected (again!!)

Condom commercials began to appear on TV for the first time.

The Kings Cross Fire resulted in 31 deaths

---------

IT IS NOW 1988

I was not happy that my future career was going anywhere in Glangwilli ITU. It was a district general hospital in a rural area that had a low key aspiration. Fate took a hand and one afternoon whilst we browsed in WHSmith Jan noticed a job advert in the Nursing Times for Staff Nurses in Morriston ITU. I had applied to this large major ITU previously whilst still living in London and not been accepted. But now I was in Wales AND was ITU Trained. 

I was offered an interview and low and behold I was offered a place - and with their agreement that they would support my studies on the Diploma. I remember so well doing nights in this Unit, and writing essays for the diploma at the Nurses Station at 3 in the morning between hourly Obs and Interventions whilst my colleagues did their knitting.

 Morriston Hospital was a large major trauma centre offering a range of specialities. Capital funding was being lavished on new buildings, estate and services. It was large then - today it a vast major Welsh Hospital  on par with any in the UK.

Morriston ITU had 8 Critical Care beds when I worked there full time. Even after I left I continued with Bank Shifts, and watched it evolve to a 40 Bed Unit. 

Run by Intensivists, with a huge establishment of Nurses, it was what I had been more familiar with. As always there were many patients and families. As always there were triumphs and disasters. I worked side by side with my Welsh colleagues, caring for one and all who came through the door regardless of race, colour or creed. 

There were memorable moments that have lived with me ever since. We fought hard one afternoon to save a child of 4 years. We failed. We arranged the bed area in clean white sheets, we lay flowers on the bed. The Mother came in for her last cuddle, sitting in the comfy chair we provided. I gently passed the limp little figure to her. We all wept. Later I carried the little bundle over shoulder to the morgue, Swaddled and wrapped - no one could have guessed what passed them. 3 years later the Mother became a student Nurse, inspired by what she had seen and using her enduring grief as a positive way forward.

A Nurse can tell you stories like that all night long. It is time to move on...

Our family had grown - 2 sons now in a 2 Bedroomed House in Carmarthen. The drive everyday to Swansea was tiresome. It was time to move again. We searched, and a new House was found in Swansea - 106 Gwelfor. We moved to this house just before Christmas in 1988. It is where I have lived for the rest of my life.

Tom is now 5 years old and is in Dunvant's Infants School, Sam is nearly 2 years old and is very busy and growing fast...

I have completed the Diploma successfully just short of a Distinction. The Off Duty rolls on interminably. And I am increasingly frustrated and I want more, but don't know what that "more" is. I apply for a Charge Nurse post but don't get it - now in the all to familiar "queue" for promotion.

Do you know I cannot remember who suggested that I go to the School of Nursing to get career advice. But that is what I did. The West Glamorgan School og Nursing - Morriston Campus - a decrepit old building from the 1940s. And there I met Mary Ladd - the lead on Post Registration Modules. We talked - she looked at me - "have you ever thought about becoming a Nurse Teacher?". I was stunned into silence - "Errr - No - is that possible for a Staff Nurse?". 

And so I went away and reflected... And before I knew it I was being interviewed by John Evans  - Director of Nurse Education (DNE). And he offered me a job as an "Unqualified Nurse Teacher". What was I to do - I accepted .......

It was a leap into the Unknown that I could hardly have expected - that defined my future. I was to be a NURSE TEACHER !!!!!!! And from that moment my life was altered forever. Ahead lay a long path through the world of Education, Teaching and Academia. I would become a well known figure in the world of nursing - and my family would grow up. And of these, the triumphs and disasters I will, by stages, tell more....

In 1988

Laws restricting opening times for UK Pubs are changed allowing Pubs to stay open all day

The English Pound Note ceases to be legal Tender

------