.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-10-24 17:05:11 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The therapy sessions weren’t about therapy at all, but an opportunity for Nurse Ratchett to manipulate and intimidate her patients into submission.

http://www.wowessays.com/dbase/ae5/kfw38.shtml

She was a psychiatric nurse who was rigid and clinical in her approach to the patients. The book and movie addressed the \'anti-psychiatry\' movement in the 60s, 70s.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-10-24 17:08:39 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

She was cold, impersonal and her name is used to refer to a rigid B*tch.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-10-25 04:31:47 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

After an exhausting week working in a 21st century \'cuckoos nest\' I should be more careful with my spelling.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-10-25 04:40:44 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Charles Dickens would have loved the name.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=ratchet

ratch·et n.
1. A mechanism consisting of a pawl that engages the sloping teeth of a wheel or bar, permitting motion in one direction only.
2. The pawl, wheel, or bar of this mechanism.

v. ratch·et·ed, ratch·et·ing, ratch·ets
v. tr.
To cause to increase or decrease by increments: “Some companies... may make things worse if they seek to ratchet down their medical expenses by limiting benefits for psychological or psychiatric care” (Newsweek).

She's mean and evil.

Refers to character from book/movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest "

Nurse Ratched was a character in Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The character, Nurse Ratched, struggles to keep her self-constructed domain together after McMurphy (played in the film by Jack Nicolson) fights to take the power away from her in a revolt. In the end, Nurse Ratched wins the battle between her and McMurphy by having him lobotomized.

So calling someone a Nurse Ratched is not a compliment.
Hope this helps

IT comes from the movie, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." A "Nurse Ratched" is a person who is over bearing mean and tormenting to a certain extent. THis is usually used on a person who is taking care of another nurse or a nurse whom is not very nice or reasonable.




--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 51 mins (2003-10-24 17:48:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I am sorry that last sentence made no sense! what I was trying to say is that \"This term is usually used on a person whom is taking care of another PERSON or a nurse whom is not very nice or reasonable.

It can also be used sarcastically. an example would be
When a person whom is caring for you says \"you have to do this and this and this\" and they get a little fussy. You could say say \"okay, nurse ratched\" in a playful sort of way without it being an insult but it is your way of telling that person he/she is being to fussy.

It also depends on who you say it to. You would not want to use it on someone who was SERIOUSLY taking care of you. It is not a compliment.

Ken Kesey actually checked himself into a mental hospital to get the background for the book and with the money from the book rights went on the 'bus' tour around the USA with the 'Acid Tests' and the Merry Pranksters dispensing "Electric Kool-Aid."
http://www.rooknet.com/beatpage/writers/kesey.html