Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-12-05
A NOBLE CALLING.
How Trained Nurses are Tausht to
Tend The Sick.

How Trained Nurses are TauEht to
Tend The Sick.
Trained nurses have proved as much
OF a success in Chicago as have the
members of that dignified profession In
other cities. The Illinois Training
school supplies to a large extent the
corps of nurses that have charge OF the
wards in both the country and Presby-
terian hospitals. Acting on the belief
that the value of the services of a
nurse is in proportion to their intelli-
gence, capacity and refinement, the
applicants to this school are subjected
TO months trial, during which they
are carefully examined in all the COM
mon school branches of study. If
their record in every way is satisfactory
they are invested with the uniform
and enter upon the regular course Of
instruction, consisting of study from
text books, medical lectures and prac-
teal work in either hospital.
After a year in the school pupils are
expected to perform any service Te-
quired, whether it be in the hospital or
in private house. Eighty young
women are now in this training school
and places could be provided for as
4
equal to the demand. The day of the
conviyial Sairy Camp Is no more, for
people are fast recognizing the fact
that getting well when one has been
sick is as much a matter of good nurs-
ing as hard dosing. Even more so in
many cases. The majority of appli-
cants who desire training for this new
profession look forward to gaining i
Va
| from it life of usefulness among the
sick poor. The Illinois Training
school is as cheerful as any private
home, and the young women who re-
ceive training there leave when the
course is over with great deal of
reluctance.
The practical part of the instruction
is very thorough and includes q knowl-
edge of the management OF helpless
patients, making beds, giving baths in
bed, bandaging, the dressing OF bis
ters, making poultices, and preparing,
cooking and serving delicacies for the
sick. They are taught how to venti-
ate rooms properly, TO take oOserva-
tions for the physician, care for rooms,
and manage convaleScents. They
learn how TO take and record the state
Of the pulse, temperature, ap-
Appetite delirium or stupor, breath
ing, sleep. condition of wounds, and
effect Of medicine, diet. stlmuIant, oI
narcotic. y superintendent has charge
Of the entire corps and Is responsible to
the medical staff for the proper per
lIormance of duty. 4 competent head
nurse is In each ward to look after botl
The night and day nurses, and with at
sending physicians gives instruction!
TO the novices at the bedside or pa
tients. In addition TO a knowledge o
nursing there must be the quality o
housewives, for to each ward is al.
tached a dining room for rconvalescents
and for the care of that. with th'
kitchen, store rooms, and linen closets
the head nurse must account.
a look IN at any or the wards in the
County hospital viii reveal two. three
or more of these tender women clad IL
lblue and white striped dresses of seer
sucker, each capped with snowy whit
aprons and cuffs. They are going
about from cot to cot mIniStering Il
The wants of patients in the various
stages of sickness and recovery. All i:
quite, orderly and cheerful. y physl
cian enters and after examining ;
patient turns and speaks word or twC
to the nurse standing near. She give
40 answer, but goes TO small room
adjoining and returns in a momen
with bandages and cotton, which sh,
hands the doctor, still without word
There seems to be something approach
ing the military in the discipline Oh
served throughout the whole establish
ment. On the opposite side of tht
ward lies a woman hugging close to he
fat faced baby. II is not her own
out one borrowed from the lying Il
ward upstairs. All the wan faceC
women turn their eyes toward The
Laughing little thing as in few me
ments a nurse bears 1t from the grea
sunny room. In the children's ware
are the same attendants. some carrying
very sick ones in their arms, and 9th
ers amusing the little ones that ar
able to sit up and hold toys or books.
The patients that liDger on the boz
1erland of death are cared for in smal
rooms that contain but three bed
each. Here the labors of the nurse mus
be unremitting, although little or n
medicine is required. Many OF tn
poor men and women lying In thes
beds are past all hopes of recovery, an,
it is only by administration OF patient
skillful attention that the itful flame
kept alive a few days longer. In th
well warmed halls the convaIescent
and some of the women are assisting
nurse to fold linen tor bandages. Ply
sicians are passing up and down Il
elevators, and friends come in to ylsi
the patients. The Daughter of tn
King'' are scattering beautiful bios
SONS everywhere.
Upon the completion of their labor
IN the training school the nurses, fur
nished with diplomas signed by tn
managers and the examining board {
the. hospitals and psyided with 500 /
money, begin their several career!
Some get positions as heads of hosp
tails, others respond TO the ever II
creasing demand for private house!
and some commence life work anon
the sick poor.