One Hectic Night In The E.R.

Mistakes aside, her transfer of duty came as a welcome relief.

- Louise Pierce

After I graduated in 1954 from Naval Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Illinois, I was assigned to the Navy hospital at Camp Pendleton, California. My first assignment was night duty in the emergency room. We were busy that first night. The pregnant wife of a Marine came in ready to deliver. The doctor told me to prepare her for an examination.

Well, being a very green recruit fresh out of school with no experience, I had the woman take off all her clothes. That was my first mistake.

The doctor’s face got red with anger and he shouted, “I just wanted to see how far apart her contractions were!”