Harriet Mentzer and Gail Greener
Recorded
June 28, 2017
Archived
July 24, 2017
00:00 minutes
Audio not available
Interview ID: lsk001786
Description
Harriet Mantzer (67) talks with her friend, Gail Greener (59) about her time as a hospice nurse, caring for cancer patients, and delivering babies. She shares about being a rancher and the death of her seventeen-year-old daughter.Subject Log / Time Code
HM talks about her time at St. Patrick's school of nursing, and working there after graduation.
HM tells how she worked as an ICU nurse before taking her board exams.
HM recounts a story about a cancer patient who died, and a cloud goes by her like a hand, and she went back to the house of the family, and gave every person a hug.
HM says she learned about listening and awareness from the hand in the sky story.
HM says she had one miscarriage a year for three years, then had a healthy baby.
HM talks about being chosen to go to Salt Lake city to learn about post op open heart surgery in 1976, when she was one of the youngest nurses on staff.
HM talks about not being well-liked for being the one to teach her staff about new open heart surgery.
HM says she went to work in a nursing home, where a resentful charge nurse kept her from doing challegning work.
HM decided to deal with that work environment by enjoying talking with her patients, especially about animals.
HM says personal connections and sharing with her patients is important to her.
HM talks about balancing her nursing life with her ranch life.
Hm talks about a calf named Spencer who went on a "walkabout"
HM recalls when she was at nursing school at Carol College, and how overwhelming it was. That was the only time she ever considered quitting.
HM talks about how her daughter and son are now nurses.
HM tells a story about a member of her father's "coffe club," who became her home health patient, and how she spent a night at his bedside in order to let the family rest.
HM tells another story about delivering a baby in a motel, and running into the mother 18 years later.
HM says how many cattle she has on her ranch, and talks about how busy calving season is.
HM says she feels most greatful for being able to help people and going home feeling fulfilled.
HM talks about her proudest nursing moment, with a cancer patient. He went into comfort care, and not long after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.
HM says she kept in contact with the wife after the man's death, and how the woman called HM when she was contemplating suicide.
HM continues to explain how this woman had been raped as a teenager, and her testimony sent her attackers to prison. When they came out of prison, she was afraid they were going to find her.
HM says the woman felt better with her support.
HM talks about following up with patients, and how it's not a burden for her.
HM talks about how, before cell phones, patients would go find her on the ranch.
HM shares the wisdom she tries to pass on to younger nurses.
HM talks about the book she is writing about nursing, collecting the stories and experiences of other nurses.
HM says she is most grateful for her family, and for having 4 children after 3 miscarriages, and for getting throught the death of her seventeen year-old daughter.
HM talks about going back to work after her daughter was killed.
HM tells a quick story about breaking a chair and falling over.
HM remembers her deceased daughter, both her positive traits and her daughter's struggles with addiction and depression.
HM talks about her daughter's time in the neuro-behavioral unit.
HM remembers how her daughter's life ended on a high note, when she had put her life together and was feeling better.
HM gives advice to pay attention if your child is going through those things and to get them help.
HM talks about how her daughter got in a fight with a girl gang in Drummond, but how that helped get the gang members out of the community because she stood up to them.
HM talks about her annual ranch party.
Participants
- Harriet Mentzer
- Gail Greener