One very nice retired nurse that I know tells the story of how just after she became an RN, she had to take charge of a large ward, and she had student nurses under her charge. But one evening the situation was too hectic to do much more than touch base with the students from time to time, leaving them considerable time to explore alternatives, sometimes a good thing, sometimes not so good!

However she nearly collapsed when, at the preparation for bedtime hour came, a student walked up to the RN, with a washbasin full of dentures! She thought she would collect them all and then give them a good cleaning, and get them back to their owners. However, she had discovered that her idea had a great stumbling block, how does one identify dentures?? They found a solution, but only because they had a great group of patients, all elderly people who had been there, done that and seen it all! But what in heavens’ name was she thinking??