Stanley C. Alchin oral history interviews by Graeme Curry

MLOH 139

fonds

18 May 1992-5 April 1993

Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Oral Histories

401860

Digitised

9 audiocassettes (7 hr., 33 min.) - 10 × 7 cm, 4 mm tape

Stan Alchin was interviewed by Graeme Curry to be the first interview in an investigation into the history and changes in psychiatric nursing practice. In the event the project did not proceed beyond the series of interviews with Stan Alchin. He was the former Director of Nursing at Rozelle Hospital. Born in 1936 and trained as a tailor, but was drawn into psychiatric nursing through his father-in-law. Started as a ward nurse at Callan Park, Sydney, in 1957. Trained for 3 years. Gives a detailed acocunt of hospital practice, staff and patients. Moved to new Rozelle Psychiatric Clinic, 1961-1965; facilities and therapies discussed, new study courses instituted. He studied teaching 1965-1968, became a nurse educator, and moved to Rydalmere. He then in 1976 became the Director of Nursing at Callan Park, Rozelle Hospital, which had amalgamated with Broughton Hall in 1976.

MLOH 139/4 Side B is blank.

MLOH 139/1 Side A (28 min.):
Stan Alchin discusses growing up in Granville, people who have had an influence on his life, changes to his faith, and background to Jean.

MLOH 139/1 Side B (30 min.):
Jean's family background, including her father who was a psychiatric nurse at Callan Park, personalities of other family members, travel experiences. Introduction to Callan Park via his Father-in-Law and his first visit to Callan Park. A detailed description of working life, hygiene and treatment of patients at Callan Park. Applying for a job at Callan Park, power structure amongst the staff, his first day.

MLOH 139/2 Side A (30 min.):
The study required to be a psychiatric nurse gained at Roselle, minimal lectures of little substance but with quite difficult external exams. Detailed explanations of the external exams. The punishments used at Callan Park, the way patients were treated and the ethics of the staff.

MLOH 139/2 Side B (32 min.):
Content of lectures in his early years if study, and the impression that his study content had on his practise. Hygiene concerns and practises at Callan Hall, particularly shaving, highlighting the lack of care shown by the charge nurses. Procedures used when the doctors performed their rounds, the typical day of the patient, and the effects of visiting days. Patients that Stan remembers particularly well. Food available to staff in contrast to patients. Sense of mateship amongst the staff, how different staff member reflect on their time at Callan Park.

MLOH 139/3 Side A (32 min.):
Reaction of staff to the threat of a Royal Commission and the Royal Commission itself. Internal working relations amongst the staff. Staff who would let drink effect their work. The culture amongst staff of stealing from patients. How psychiatric homes have changed since the Royal Commission. The use of shock treatment. Morgue duty.

MLOH 139/3 Side B (32 min.):
Describing the effect of the work on the staff, and the variations in the level of care amongst the staff. A colleague who committed suicide. Ward 9- caring for insulin-reliant patients, the main behaviours that were present. Working in the cerebral unit.

MLOH 139/4 Side A (32 min.):
Describing work at the Psychiatric Unit, moved to the Rozelle Psychiatric Clinic, including the interview process. Working experiences at Roselle, including the treatment of patients, procedures for new arrivals, and superiors at Roselle. Some of the apprenticeships that were implemented at Rozelle. Effects of being short-staffed, and changes since the Royal Commission.

MLOH 139/5 Side A (29 min.):
At Rozelle between 1961-1965, then moved to the Callan Park School of Nursing. Interview regarding teaching, his lectures, the curriculum and the nature of the school. The education of staff in anatomy and physiology. The influence of Earl Turner; the personality and management of the Senior Nurse Educator at the Nurse Training School, Molly. Lecturing techniques.

MLOH 139/5 Side B (31 min.):
The need for students to gain life experience prior to beginning psychiatric nursing. First impression of Roy Weatherhead. Influence of 60s culture on psychiatric nursing, including a rise in a concern for patient rights, increase in patient freedom and decision-making. Where colleagues are now. The official retardation nursing registration and course.

MLOH 139/6 Side A (30 min.):
Completed work at Callan Park School of Nursing in 1968 and moved to Rydalmere, where he stayed for 4 years under Joe Fitzgerald. Comparison to Callan Park with regards to patient care, although the Royal Commission had little effect here. Able to try new methods at Rydalmere. Made principal nurse educator at Callan Park 1976. Effect of the students on him as a teacher.

MLOH 139/6 Side B (31 min.):
Encounter groups and therapy groups at Rydalmere. Relationship between work life and homelife whilst at Rydalmere, and Stan's level of tolerance after Rydalmere. Short discussion of home life. Moved back to Callan Park 1972 as Principal Nurse Educator. Introduction of a new teaching method, away from directive learning towards student interaction via role plays, guest lecturers, the effect this had on the curriculum and staff. Changes in the styles of students who enrolled.

MLOH 139/7 Side A (28 min.):
How Stan transitioned to Director of nursing. Position was a male position which enabled him to apply and received encouragement from colleagues. Found the position stressful, particularly amongst the attitudes of the administration. Introduced numerous policies very quickly and alone, the way he ran his hospital and the way the hospital changed its attitudes.

MLOH 139/7 Side B (31 min.):
Stan's interview for the position at Callan Park, and the responses from Trade Unions and other directors of nursing. The amalgamation of Brougton Hall and Callan Park, starting from mid-1976. Letz report made with good recommendations but were not followed through in the hospitals - government needed to hold psychiatric units to greater account. Some of the medical officers that had been instituted.

MLOH 139/8 Side A (28 min.):
Director of Nursing at Roselle for 15 years. Stan's legacy over this time, including the implementation of 8 hour shifts, introducing new ideas across the whole hospital. The use of strikes during his period as Director and managing strikes. Trade Union relationships in the 1980s. Professional and personal support available. The social networks of other colleagues. Work is evolutionary.

MLOH 139/8 Side B (30 min.):
Changes Stan made to nursing, including integrated reporting, focal nursing plan, patent-centred care. Doctors were not interested in the changes in nursing, and Stan would challenge doctors on their social decisions. Changes in patients and their assertiveness. Development of Rozelle to be able to implement ideas. Relationships with other Directors of Nursing. Willingness to take graduates. Richmond report followed David Richmond's ideas but was harsh on nurses.

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The description of this material has been supplied from the Oral History Digitisation Program, undertaken 2014 to 2017, of the Library's oral history collections.

A log of the tapes is available.
Copy available at CY MLOH 139/1-8
MLOH 139/1 Side A: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 18 May 1992

MLOH 139/1 Side B: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 18 May 1992

MLOH 139/2 Side A: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 25 May 1992

MLOH 139/2 Side B: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 25 May 1992

MLOH 139/3 Side A: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 25 May 1992

MLOH 139/3 Side B: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 22 June 1992

MLOH 139/4 Side A: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 22 June 1992

MLOH 139/5 Side A: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 20 July 1992

MLOH 139/5 Side B: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 20 July 1992

MLOH 139/6 Side A: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 11 January 1993

MLOH 139/6 Side B: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 11 January 1993

MLOH 139/7 Side A: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 22 February 1993

MLOH 139/7 Side B: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 22 February 1993

MLOH 139/8 Side A: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 5 April 1993

MLOH 139/8 Side B: Recorded at the University of Technology, Sydney, Kuringai Campus, on 5 April 1993
MLOH 139/4 Side B: Side B is blank.
Some of this material has been provided to the Library with limited documentation. If you can provide, or require, more information about this material, please enquire through the Library's Ask A Librarian service.

Interviewer: Curry, Graeme, 1948-
Interviewee: Alchin, S. C.

MLOH 139/6 Side A: Cassette label indicates that this is an original tape.

MLOH 139/6 Side B: Cassette label indicates that this is an original tape.

MLOH 139/7 Side A: Cassette label indicates that this is an original tape.

MLOH 139/7 Side B: Cassette label indicates that this is an original tape.

MLOH 139/8 Side A: Cassette label indicates that this is an original tape.

MLOH 139/8 Side B: Cassette label indicates that this is an original tape.