Aired on Tuesday, NTR’s “Andere Tijden” program highlighted the history of nurses living in the Ikazia hospital nurses’ home in Rotterdam Charlois from 1966 to 1981, revealing broader social changes. The episode featured interviews with former nurses, some retired, who shared their experiences of living and working in this unique environment.

Despite the Christian ethos of Ikazia hospital, the nurses’ home, nicknamed “the Turtledove” and “the Hunkerbunker,” fostered a strong sense of community among the young women. The hospital, whose abbreviation stands for Interdenominational Action Hospital Under Construction, once required trainee nurses to read the Bible to patients.

Over time, changes occurred in the hospital’s culture. Practices such as requiring nurses to wear white uniforms with slips, polished brown shoes, and headdresses gradually disappeared. The emphasis on nurses wearing makeup to appeal to patients also faded.

The program also touched on the demanding nature of the nursing profession. The nurses faced difficult situations, such as dealing with the death of patients, often without adequate support or counseling. A cohort of 24 young women who started the training, twelve dropped out.

Despite the challenges, the nurses fondly remembered the close-knit community and sisterhood they shared in the nurses’ home. They recalled sleeping on the roof under the stars during hot weather and supporting each other through difficult experiences.

The nurses’ reflections also highlighted the absence of modern healthcare terminology, such as “efficiency,” “workload,” “red tape,” and “health insurance,” indicating a shift in the healthcare landscape over time. Those who persevered found it to be a profession for life, and would do it again if possible.