Voices of Experience – Murdina Buchanan

As with so many, Murdina had always wanted to be a Queen’s Nurse, and fondly remembers a QN delivering her young cousin.  In this interview, Murdina tells her journey around the UK, with initial nursing training on Lewis, through Glasgow and Cardiff on her way to Queens training in Glasgow.  She talks about her nursing career, spent largely on the west coast of Scotland, and in particular the benefits of being your own boss.

One particular story, about a problematic labour when the closest hospital is 70miles away, shows how well respected the Queen’s Nurses were, and how problem solving was a crucial part of their role.

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.”