In January 1973, my journey as a nurse began at the Preliminary Training School(PTS) in The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh(RIE) Assigned to the nurses home in Chalmers Street, our rooms & room mates were arranged based on the proximity of our birthdays. The first two months were dedicated to classroom theory & practice where we worked with a manikin named Mrs RIE. It was emphasised that it was the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, not Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

The linen room ladies treated us kindly as they measured us for our uniforms which were completed with a flourish of the bright red cape. Our dresses were a nondescript grey denim blue, sewn with strong itch nylon thread. In our second year the collar was changed to white, & in third year white cuffs were added, making it easy to distinguish our levels of experience.

My proudest moment came when I qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1976 & exchanged my dress for a deep blue ensemble, adorned with a blue velvet ribbon on the cap & broad starched white belt around my waist. This change brought a new found sense of confidence & recognition from familiar faces in the corridors. We were granted the privilege of using the coffee room reserved for consultants, ward sisters & staff nurses.

My first placement as a staff nurse in my Pelican year was on a male orthopaedic ward where cheerful greetings contrasted with the constant requests for bedpans on the female wards.
Throughout the rigorous training, the emphasis was on maintaining high standards of care & running a tight “ship” Even now my beds are made with hospital corners, pillow openings positioned away from the door, as I was taught.

Despite challenges, including encounters with patients who were less than welcoming, my memories of the training school are fond. I recall the in house post office & bank, the disappearing tea tray during early morning ward rounds & the discipline instilled in us to maintain a tidy ward. The long Nightingale wards though lacking in privacy, provided a watchful eye for all who worked there.

The demolition of the Royal Infirmary brought a deep sense of sadness, but the future hold promise with the Edinburgh Futures Institute(EFI) I look forward to returning to my Alma Mater where my nursing skills were honed & to experience the first of many book festivals. The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh will always hold a special place in my heart, a symbol of dedication, compassion, and the highest standards of care.