'I will always remember the day the Sister asked me to take the TPR's - temperature, pulse and respiration'

'I will always remember the day the Sister asked me to take the TPR's - temperature, pulse and respiration'

Maisie McNailly describes a funny incident when asked to take a patient's TPR while training to become a nurse.

Maisie McNailly

Trinity College Dublin

1952

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Maisie McNailly

Work and Employment

Life Story

Belfast

1950's

I will always remember the day the sister asked me to take the TPRs - temperature, pulse and respiration. I had been shown how to do it. The thermometer tray is on the cabinet at the end of the ward. 'Have you been shown how to chart TPRs Nurse?_� 'Yes, sister._� The thermometer tray looks like the one in P.T.S. A pair of suspicious eyes glare at me. 'Just going to take your temperature._� I pick the thermometer from the tray which was in pink fluid, wipe it and attempt to shake it down with the flick of my wrist. The shaking is to no avail. The mercury remains where it is at 99 degrees. I try using my whole arm but will not shift. I pick out another thermometer and relieved to find it 96 degrees. 'Will you put this under your tongue please?_� I reach for my pocket watch, I press gently on various parts of his wrist. Finally, find a pulse. I count for a full minute then count his respirations. After 45 minutes, the TPR are recorded (6 TPRs)!

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)