'I remember one patient I won't forget'

'I remember one patient I won't forget'

Maisie McNailly describes a memorable experience caring for a patient during her training period as a nurse.

Maisie McNailly

Trinity College Dublin

1951

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Maisie McNailly

Work and Employment

Life Story

Belfast

1950's

I remember one patient I won't forget. I was on a male medical ward. An oldish man had been admitted. A senior nurse took me with her to examine this man's leg. It was well covered with a bandage. He sat on an easy chair, extends his bad leg. The nurse kneels down to unroll the bandage, where a huge ulcer taking up most of his calf is revealed. I promptly felt sick. I pull myself together. I stare at the cavernous wound. It looked as if an animal had taken a bit out of him. It was covered with green puss. I removed the bandage and dressing into a plastic bag. Nurse washes her hands then starting to clean the ulcer. I can hardly look. Will I ever be able to attend such a horrible wound?

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)