Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-10

ScOiulng,
Now goodbye, dearest, must come to a close,
Sos to get in my letter before the mail goes
Remember the Club, give love to Miss St nley,
And DO not forget
ELIZABETH MANLEY.
Trained Nurses i'm Sickness.
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
An efficient nurse next to a good physician,
Is necessary to successfully combat disease She
has responsibilities and duties which must be
faithfully met and performed, as the life of the
patient, in great measure, is as dependent
upon good nursing as upon medical skill. APP
parently only physicians appreciate this fact,
when it should be universally understocd and
as all are concerned more general interest
should be manifested in the training of nurses.
especially as it has never received from the
public the attention it deserved or effected
those useful reforms of which it is capable.
Nursing. to some extent, is a natural Gift;
therefore not everyone is competent for the
position Yet with the proper training and APP
pllcatlOn, the unadapted persons can become
highly proficient. and it would certainly prove
much more satisfactory to employ them than the
more gifted yet ignorant ones.
MALE AND FEMALE NURSES.
While the general opinion that women make
the more suitable nurses is true. still men are
touch, quite as considerable, firm and sympa-
thetic as women; and when well instructed in
the art become most excellent nurses. Male
nurses have the advantage of strength firm
ness. endurance, and are more desirable in par
ticular cases. Here then is an encouraging
opening for those Of either sex suited to the
calling. And. even aside from the professional
aspect of the question, if some member of every
family would obtain the requisite information,
nytIpnG measure WOil0 understood nd
diseases prevented and when sickness occurs
the Intelligent assistance given would alone
amply compensate for the application required.
QUALIFICATIONS OF NURSES
A nurse should possess these qualifications
sObriety. cleanliness. gentleness, firnness cheer
fulness, patience. health. good moral character,
and have her five senses in an active condition
She need not be educated, but ought to have
good common sense and be able to read writing
so that she can understand all the doctors direc-
tons. She should do all in her power for the
sick deal justly with the physician and not
place too high valuation on her own opinion
or skill. The bright. attentive nurse will not
need to wait for the sufferer to make known his
wants; She will understand in a moment the
simplest motion and will not be hard to awaken
during the night. the least restIessness of the
patient being sufficient to arouse her. to render
the desired assistance.
THE DUTIES OF NURSE
are many and varied. She should be competent
to select the most suitable room, which should
be light and cheerful except in Ophthalmic or
brain affections. She must keep the apartment
scrupulOusly clean. free from all unpleasant
odor, and well ventilated. The palmer it is fur
nished the better. The position OF the bed is
important, too. according to the nature of the
disease; it should be comfortably prepared the
linen frequently renewed. the PATIENTS comfort
carefully studied. and his position changed as
often as desired, if prudent. Other duties of
importance are capability of preparing quickly
ana nicely the various kinds of suppostories
DandageS and foundations, how to apply them
and when to renew them. How ard when to
use baths. enemata, massage, and. in case of ne
cessity, the simpler medicines. to dress wounds
take the temperature, pulse, respiration, and
also, assist in setting fractured or dslocated
limb.
An intelligent knowledge Of
THE PREPARATION OF SUITABLE DIET
for the sick is Indispensable It isnot intended
that she should prepare the food herself. unless
in case of exigency, but that she have the
ability to give full directions, and to know
when it is properly made. The physician should
consider it his duty in most cases to prescribe
the diet just as he does the medicine; still there
are many conditions in which an expedient reri-
men is required when the details of its prepare
ton and administration are entirely intrllsted
to the discretion OF the attendant. The appe-
tite OF the patient being variable great care
should be exercised that only the quantity it
would he prudent for him to eat should be
given at once; that it be arranged in the most
attractive manner, and consist of pa atable and
tempting dishes. What remains should be
promptly removed from the rOOn and when
he wishes to drink care should be taken that
the water is PEI fectly fresh.
NURSES SHOULD BE WELL PAID
1t is very difficult to properly estimate the re-
ward due nurses for conscientious and well per-
formed duties. There are times when dollars
and cents will not compensate for their services.
As they have to undergo considerable training
to become competent, submit to the excessive
surveillance that is in too many houses and in
situations imposed upon them and perform
many disagreeable duties in plying their vOca-
tiOn, they should be treated with the prOper
consideration andbe remunerated literally First
oil all. they must be made to feel cOntented, and
While we Should never permit them to consider
themselves Indispensable. whatever be their
qualities, still we ought to treat them with con-
ndence and respect, being on our guard lest we
De too easy at first and afterwards too strict.
lime I should be allowed for rest and recreation,
otherwise the InOnOGOny of the life would ha'
come oppressive and tend to discouraoement
anu the duties would be no longer satisfactorily
performed. 4gol
Gennite rule IS regards salary should be in
s'sted upon, unless the patient is unable to pay.
WINE nursing is a livelihood yet it il of foo
noble character to be undertaken solely from
m1ercenary motives, It is assured to those who
discharge with fidelity their whole duty. esne.
eialiy in time Of war and pestilence, that the
highest service they Are enabled To rendar To
Others will bring back the richest y.,no,d tn them.
selves; that in seariey others thy ,eia please God.
Washington, D. g. =
The FUTURE OF ;INOcuLATION = Customer:
'My nephew is just. starting for Sierra Leone.
and thought could not make him a more
useful present than adose of your best yellow
fever. Would you tell me the price. pleased"
Chemist: Wen, ma'am, the germs are SO diff
cult to cultivate in Europe that would advise
your waiting for the next West Indian mail, |
when am expecting nice, fresh consignment
from st. Thomas. Meanwhile we would recon-
mend our half-gninea travellers assortment of
NM NFNxsc&