Meet Nurse Weir. Notice her title. She’s was a nursing instructress at the Capitol City School of Nursing in Washington, D.C. This picture was published in 1933. I’m sure that Nurse Weir did a bang up job getting her students ready to answer State Board questions. Do you think that you could have passed the boards? Find out by trying to answer a couple of questions. These questions came out of a book called State Board Questions and Answers For Nurses. It was written by John A. Foote, M.D. and published in 1929.

Give common names for the following: oleum ricini, tincture opii camphorata, oleum terebinthinae, hydrargyri chloridum mite, spiritus frumenti, spiritus vini gallici.

The common name of oleum ricini is castor oil.
The common name of tinctura opii camphorata is paregoric.
The common name for oleum terebinthinae is oil of turpentine.
The common name of hydrargyri chloridum mite is calomel.
The common name of spiritus frumenti is whiskey.
The common name of spiritus vini gallici is brandy.

Cephaelis ipecacuanha

Name five emetics; five alteratives.
Mustard, sodium chloride, apomorphine, ipecac, and sulphate of copper are emetics.

Potassium iodide, mercury protoiodide, colchicum seed, sarsaparilla, and arsenous acid are alternatives.

How are you doing so far? Hmmm… that’s what I thought. I’ll give you one more chance to pass the boards.

On whom does unprofessional conduct reflect most, the nurse or her profession?

Improper or unethical conduct in matters concerned with the nurse’s work reflects more unfavorable upon the ideals of the nursing profession than upon the standing of the individual nurse. (Don’t you just love the concept of collective guilt?)

So how did you do? I bet you’re feeling kind of stupid right now aren’t you? Don’t worry. Nurse Weir and I will give you a chance to redeem yourself some other time by giving you another shot at passing your boards. Nurse Weir loves giving tests and her study guide is packed with questions. Better luck next time.