Leaving school at nearly 16, 30-odd years ago,
I spotted a job advert for 'Cadet Nurses'.

This was when a TV series called 'Angels' was popular, and most young girls fancied themselves in a tight white uniform and dainty cap.

Cadet nurses were under-18s who hoped to go into nurse training when they were old enough. The idea was that you'd work in slightly sheltered conditions and pick up enough experience to help you in your chosen career.

So I and several others turned up, and were chucked straight in at the deep end.

The 'hospital' was a home for what were delicately called 'the mentally subnormal'.

About half were incontinent, many were bedbound, all were severely institutionalised and the place stank of cabbage and wee.

I was given, on my first morning, a row of 'patients' to 'get up', all of whom were likely to bite me, throw up on me or cover me in shit. No namby-pamby aprons or rubber gloves!

I had no clue how to do this.

After a few weeks I could manage the work OK, but I never quite got used to the constant harrassment from the male staff, who'd think it funny to walk up behind you as you bent over a bed and pull your uniform up to your armpits. Being asked to give a wank in the sluice was a common occurrence too, usually by respectable married men.

The place was like one of the circles of Hell. I stuck it for a couple of years, but had to face the fact that nursing had lost its career-appeal for me, and when I turned 18 I ran off to work in a factory. For 4 times the money and a much safer, if oilier environment.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Thu 10 May 2007, 18:02, Reply)