The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-08
Skilled Nurses.

The advertisement of one of our well-known
physicians proposing to establish school of
instruction for nurses. suggests serious want
serious want which we, as q community, have
labored under for years, and If his laudable en-
terprise meets with the support it deserves,
the want will soon be supplied. OF course we
refer to the difficulty-nay, the absolute impos-
sibility-of securing good. reliable nurses in
finements resulting from injuries or following
surgical operations. Every day nearly the
anxious inquiry may, be heard, "Where can
find a good nurse "Who can get at my house
for O few weeks that can be relied on in the
sick room. Will pay anything in reason &C,
&c. We dare say everyone who sees this has
reard the demand and may have eagerly made
it themselves. Is a satisfactory answer ever
obtained No; for the species known as
trained, reliable nurses, is absolutely without
specimen representative in Staunton. Here
and there may be found an elderly colored
aunty, who by half century's exp erience in
washing and dressing babies, and in w..rming
f1annels and administering cat-nip tea has
acquired sapient air and gentle dignity that
is impressive, but to this narrow range are her
abilities limited. and of the real qualifications
of the ef1icient nurse she is totally wanting. A
nurse should profess practical knowledge of
her or him, and yet the character of the knowl-
edge required is not so abstruse or SO compre-
hensive but that the most neagarly educated
might soon gresp it ana become the possessors
of profession that would prove in some de-
gree lucrative, and certainly popular and in
constant demand. 1t is unnecessary to present
facts to show the necessity for them. Every
head of family has experienced the want and
felt the accompanying sense of helplessness
that comes with the protracted Illness of
member of the household. When the strength
and voluntary and sympathetic ministrations
of neighbors are finally to be the only re-
Of someone to whom the burden could be
assigned. How vastly better to avoid the issues
above by having in our midst q trained corps of
these Invaluable people to aid us at the outset
The question will no doubt occur, what do
they mean by trained nurses; what is a trained
nurse but an old woman or man, either who
has had wears of GXDerianCe in waiting n
foIks?" The nurse of to-day, the trained
nurse. should know and can readily acquire the
The pulse rate, its strength or feebleness.
The range Of temperature and how to test it
eye and its movements under the influence Of
light. The usual expedfents for arresting
hemmorrhages. A reasonable skill in apply
ing bandages. knowledge of the various
milks, their relative nourishing quality, and
the test of their purity. TIE preparation Of the
| tetic preparations for the sick generally. The
care and ventilation of the sick chamber. The
preparation and use of dsinfectants:
All this may seem voluminous and technical
but very few lectures illustrated by practical
experiment., and in this way impressed ON the
mind will do wonders in imparting the re-
quired Information and to any persons of fair
intelligence who have really the desire to fully
qualify and equip themselves, q few weeks Of
faithful and diligent attention will bring quite
a measure OF self-confdence and reliance, and
success in the practical part will come prompt
| ly and easily. Many persons there are with
natural taste for nursing and innate aptitude,
who with this brief course of systematic in
struction would become enthusiastic and enter
upon the life with real pleasure Nor need it
| be exclusively confined to those intending to
adopt it as profession. The practical SUCCESS
tiOns and demonstrations there given would be
| of value to any one. Any lady of leisure could
with advantage attend the course of instruc-
| tion and acquire there knowledge that might
prove of real benefit in llfe's many emergen-
cies Were we as town provided with these
useful people, how many Wearied and ex-
hausted mothers might be aided and with what
| q lightneSS and cheerful mind could the man
of business go to his daily office or counting
room labor when the anxiety for the sick MEM
Der was removed by the reflection that an ever
ready and competent attendant was on hand
to watch .intelligently the varying symptoms
mon the physician should any significant
change develop or eXigency arise. But as we
said before no arguments are needed to prove
its great and growing necessity. Let us give
the training school for nurses prompt, united
and steady support and let us hope from each
nelghborhOod OF our county at large q repre-
sentative may be sent. that our county friends
may aid us and share its advantages. Let each
county physician select from among his ac-
quaintances one OF more persons of suitable
age i'll whom he has detected some natural
adaptation for attendance in the sick-room land
everyone has) then let him suggest TO her or
and the benefits to be derived from course of
systematic instruction. In this way classes
might be formed in the county for which con-
venient days in the week might be fixed upon
the same day. With very little trouble or ex-
ertiOn this thoroughly benehcent enterprise
may be successfully launched, and our county
friends as we'll as we of the town will reap the
inestimable benefits Of this vitality useful and
practically Indispensable Institution. Will not
some of our sisters in the town and county
contribute their views on this subject?
AN INTERESTED WOMAN,