[NV013] : Pauline at St George's |
Pauline Murakami (nee Phillips) was born in April 1937. She always wanted to be a nurse and this ambition lead her to joining the St. John’s Ambulance Cadets, which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Pauline applied to several London teaching hospitals, but found several of them quite formal and forbidding, St. George's, by contrast, impressed Pauline, and her Mother, with it's friendly, pleasant atmosphere. She was offered and accepted a place and moved down to Earl's Court Square in 1955. She was initially a little overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of London, but soon made firm friends with her fellow students and settled in well.
Sister Parnell introduced her set to the training course with a introductory lecture before Preliminary Training School began.
During PTS Pauline was on the wards one day a week and in the classroom the rest of the time. She was allocated to Fitzwilliam Ward at Hyde Park Corner.
Once PTS was over Pauline was transferred to Allbutt Ward at Tooting. This was a large male ward, and Pauline was initially intimidated, but after some firm, but positive advice from her Father, she stuck at it and soon began to enjoy herself.
Pauline’s training involved time spent on many different types of ward. She remembers working on Psychiatric wards, gynae wards, medical and surgical wards. Although she enjoyed most of the different types of nursing she remembers feeling particularly happy on the surgical wards. She vividly remembers time spent on Drummond ward, which was female surgical, perhaps it was the formidable and efficient figure of Sister Bryant that has made this period of training stick in Paulines mind?
Many memorable events took place during Pauline’s time at St. George’s, including treating Stirling Moss after a motor-racing accident at Atkinson Morley Hospital, and helping to contain an Asian Flu epidemic in 1957.
In 1958 Pauline left St George’s to do her Midwifery training in Leicester. She maintained a connection with St. George’s however as several other St. George’s students did the course with her.
Later Pauline returned to St. George’s to work as a Night Sister and to run Oxford and Winchester wards. She remembers many happy times there, such as Christmas on the wards, and some not so good times, such as when Matron Muriel Powell discovered one of her patients trying to escape on the number 14 bus!
Pauline remembers her time at St. George’s with great affection, remembering particularly the strong, lasting friendships she formed there.
To read & listen to Pauline's experiences whilst at St George's please click on Pauline's Story