Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-01-03
NURSING THE SICK.
Some Good Advice 60 the Attendants
Of Those who are EIF.

Of Those who are Eif.
To minister TO the sick, says All the
Year Round. Is one of the noblest am
bitions of the present age, as evinced
by the number of people who volun-
tarily devote themselves to such duties,
independently of the calls of affection
or considerations of reward. To be a
good nurse requires rare combination
of excellencies In the same individual
intelligence. physical strength, a
kind disposition with frmness. light
hand and foot. courage greater than
that which animates the soldier on the
battlefield, and, above all. untiring
patience. Given these. and the nurse
becomes more than half the remedy,
not only inspiring confidence on the
part of the patient. but the surgeon or
physician also, who can rely that his
| instructions will be carried out with
implicit obedience to the letter Such
a paragon, however, is rarely 10 be met
with, except as an emissary from one
or another of those admirable institu-
tions where ladies are trained under
skilfm management for this work;
and in the vast majority of cases an
invalid Is placed in the hands OF his
immediate friends or relations, who,
with the best intentions. il must be
confessed. often prejudice his comfort
and retard his recovery by the very
over-anxiety which is bred of affection.
The object of this paper is not TO con-
vey the instructions necessary for the
education Of an accomplished nurse-a
difficult task-but to enumerate few
small points which should be avoided,
as tending greatly to the discomfort of
the patient, and for the guidance OF
those who, without previous expert
ence, find themselves suddenly thrust
into this most responsible position.
Quietude is great thing. of course,
but real quietude means the absence
of all excitement, and 1t must be re-
membered that anything out Of the
common will tend TO excite the mind of
a sufferer. DO not, therefore walk on
tiptoc, for this. in addition 20 its un-
usual elaboration Of the gait. invaria-
bly, causes "A certain amount of creak-
EF. L.. 4
whisper; "A whisper will often awake a
sleeper who would not be disturbed by
ordinary conversation: and never say
Hash Let your clothes and foot
covering be of AS noiseleSs and unob-
trusiye n character as possible. and in
stead of gliding and tottering about
like a rickety ghost. do not hesitate to
walk. If you have occasion To say any
thing in the room. say It so that the
patient can hear it II he wishes. and do
not let him be aware Of your conspir-
ing privately with the others. especial
ly at the door. That door has much 10
answer for. If it be visible from the
bed, people open it cautiously. put their
heads in and slowly withdraw again.
II. as Is more frequently the case. 1t is
screened by the bed curtains. mysteri-
ous openings and shuttings are heard.
unattended with any apparent ingrcss
or egress and soto voce colloqnies go
on outside. When you enter do 80
honestly and at once. do not spend
five minutes in turning the handle,
like housebreaker. thereby producing
a series Of irritating little clicks. final
ly terminating in big snap with
which the door flies open. II the latch
be at all rusty. a handle that is slowly
wound back in this way will often
stick, and either require 10 be ratified
back into position, or. if left as il is,
may start back suddenly. after time.
Of its own accord, with report like
pistol shot 1t Is always well to recol-
lect that it by no means follows that a
sick person Is asleep because his eyes
are shut; he may be acutely conscious
of all that is passing in the room,
though unable or unwilling TO make
any sign; and nothing can be more
maddening under such circumstances,
than 70 have people hush-sh-shing and |
whispering around and creaking about
on the tips Of their toes.
Never stand at the foot Of the bed
and look at the patient While talk
ing to him. It is better TO sit by the
side Of the bed. and a. near the pillow
as possible. so that you may converse
easily. while your face and body are
turned in the same direction as his.
by this means you can make all neces-
sary observation of his features with.
out enforcing the arrest Of his eyes TO