Aboard a Hospital Ship

Abstract

in size and will take from 26 to 58 patients. The double-decker bunks have comfortable mattresses, and the orthopedic wards are equipped with fracture beds which have appliances for any necessary traction. All the lower bunks have regular standard hospital frames and can be adjusted to the patients' needs. Small trays fastened to the bunks replace the more familiar bedside stands and help to keep the patients' personal belongings within reach. Each bunk is equipped with a bedside lamp as well as earphones over which the patient can hear the transcribed programs from the Armed Forces Radio Service and the religious services from the ship's improvised chapel. Most of the wards have their own diet kitchens, equipped with electric food-warming tables from which piping hot food can be served. Also included in the hospital spaces are three large operating rooms, pathology laboratory, and x-ray and physiotherapy departments. An EENT clinic is equipped with its own operating room and optical laboratory. A complete dental clinic and the latest electrocardiographic and encephalographic machines complete a modern general hospital. At last we reached Pusan, our home port for several months. Here our primary responsibilities were to provide nursing care for the troops of the United Nations Forces. Our sister ship, the Consolation, was waiting for us to relieve her. As we approached her a military band on her flight deck welcomed us with, If I knew you were coming I'd 'a' baked a cake. This became our theme song in Korea. Many a Navy nurse remembers with pride her time as a real sailor. One of them tells about it here.