Voices of Experience – Lorna McKechnie

In this interview, Lorna talks about her life and career as a Queen’s Nurse covering a number of communities in the north east of Scotland.  She discusses how district nursing has changed over the years, and the importance of developing relationships.  Lorna indicates how for her, nursing in the community was about more than dressing wounds, it was about knowing the people as people, not patients.   Relationships are a key part of Lorna’s interview, with bed baths advocated as a powerful tool for learning more about a patient.

Being a district nurse close to Braemar meant more than a few encounters with the Royal Family and Lorna takes great pleasure in describing a number of these visits.

Background

In 2016, journalist Pennie Taylor was commissioned to compile oral histories from our retired Queen’s Nurses.  Interviews with nine Queen’s Nurses as part of the project “Voices of Experience” were filmed, and these videos provide an informative and colourful depiction of life as a community nurse across the latter half of the twentieth century.  Each interviewee brings a unique perspective, creating a comprehensive look at the importance of Queen’s Nurses to Scotland’s communities.  The interviews help to illustrate how training and practice have changed over the years, and are a fascinating piece of our history which we are delighted to be able to share with you.

A new video will be placed online each Monday, on this page and on our YouTube channel, throughout the beginning of early 2017, so please check back weekly to hear some fantastic stories.

We were delighted to have Pennie on board, and her journalistic experience and professionalism showed throughout the whole process, creating these nine immersive videos.  Pennie said:

“It was a treat to get to know them all, and to share their memories of working lives spent helping others in cities, towns and villages the length and breadth of the land.  Each has a unique experience and perspective, of course, but what struck me about them collectively was their ingenuity and bravery, coupled with a deep-rooted commitment to delivering the highest quality nursing care possible.”

Our heartfelt thanks go to Pennie Taylor and to each of these nine wonderful people who shared their lives with us.