Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-24
TIE TRAINED NURSE.
HOW SHE IlGHTENs THE SUFFER-
ING PATIENTS WEARY HOURS.

Excepting Record of the Case-work
and Wages.
The training school nurse Is tower of
strength. pillar Of support. sn angel of
wisdom and light The things she can
do are past enumerating She can make
bandage. plaster. or poultice. and
put it on the patient before the best
housewife can hunt up the soft rag re-
quired In the operation; she can give a
fever patient fail bath under the bed
clothes every hour. snd not only clean the
body but stimulate it; she can wash q
sick child without putting soap suds in
its eye or the wash rag IN ITS mouth; she
can comb hair. get the tsngles out with
out hurting, and keep the scalp clean: she
can make bed without removing the in
valid or exposing any part OF the body.
and she has the faculty of beating up a
pillow and whipping comfort and ease into
It. She Is also an excellent cook and can
prepare many tempting dishes for her
patients. such as broths and bouillea,
toast waters. gruels. crstsrds. blanc
mango and marmalades. Fer skill is
shown also In the varied combinations she
can make of milk and eggs. cereals. and
fruits, actually making the patient be-
ieve in change of diet without depart
ing from the prescribed fare by the doctor
Aside from the personal care of the
patient she must keep record of the case
II the physician calls for It, in which is
hourly noted the temperature. pulse.
respiration, and the condition of the
bowels, kidneys. skin and eyes of the
patient The time of giving medicine and
ool ,o Ell H.
ing remarks" is noted the amount Of
food and sleep taken. effects of medicine,
and whatever variations there may be In
the case No school report is made out
with greater accuracy. neatness. or legi-
bility 1t explains itself to any one who
can read, and by referring to the several
entries the physician can treat the patient
from his buggy or Office just as If he went
10 the sick chamber, which very many
doctors do who are pressed for time. for
in the majority of cases it is nursing
rather than medicine that brings about
cure. OF course. il Is to be expected that
some nurses viii not reach the standard
here indicated. for they are but human.
The physician who encounters sn incaps-
BILE nurse is very likely to become preju-
diced against the entire profession, but It
only requires the services of good nurse
to put him right again
However, it is poor rule that will not
work both ways, and there are plenty Of
instances on record where q smart, unas-
Stunning young woman has brought about
the dismissal of the attending physician
because his diagnosis of the case was
faulty Just at present the two profess
sions are more or less contentious mas
much as schools differ-one granting the
privilege of administering medicine 10 the
graduated nurse and other training
schools making such action misde-
meanor The wisdom of the latter sys-
TEN is self evident, for it Is hardly posi-
bic in the college term Of eighteen months
to give the pupil nurse a medical educs-
ton. In schools where medical instruc-
tion forms part of the graded course
there is danger that the administration Of
bromides. narcotics and opistes viii be
carried to the verge Of rashness II the
nurse is tired and feels herself unequal
to the task imposed, her first Inclination
is to take hypodermics injection, while
an INSCRIPTIONS one will not hesitate TO
quiet troublesome patient with dose
of morphine.
In cases of contagion the duties Of the
nurse are most onerous Every square
inch of the room has to be scrubbed with
soap and waterfalls. windows, sash,
Dashboard. bedstead table and chairs
and afterward treated to a disinfectant
sponging This operation done with. the
place must be fumigated with sulphur or
chlorine paper, after which both nurse
and patient are given an antiseptic bath
and clothed in absolutely clean garments.
Ia this connection may be stated the as
sistance a nurse renders the surgeon.
whose instruments she disinfects after
each operation Fever nursing Ia the
most expensive to the nurse. as wei as
the patron, since II requires at least two
weeks to overcome the effects. An
honest nurse will not take a surgical or
obstetrical case within ten days after Civ
Ing up fever patient, knowing the dan
ger there is Of carrying the contagion in
her hair or some portion Of her attire
Even at her own personal loss the con-
scientious woman wiz forego an engage
ment rather than expose her patients 70
&he chances of fever. During tho respite
she lives largely in the open air and re-
peats the antiseptic bath.
The minimum wages Of nurse are SIS
q week. bat in extreme cases $50 and $40
O week is paid. Provision has to be made
for her board. so that the salary is clear
gain While the uniform of null and
cap and seersucker gown is wholly op-
tional with the women. most Of them con-
time to wear II in service on hygienic al
well as economical principles. But II
must not De imagined that il is al smooth
sailing in the house WHARF disease reigns-
A ., a.
keep help. and In cases where the mother
or head Of the house is stricken down II Ia
the duty Of the nurse TO look after the
home as well as she can Hot water no
cessita.es her presenee In the kitchen. and
in the 'preparation of the patients meals
the sppeeites Of the young children are
looked after. One nust be the mother OF
a large family and endure sickness and
poverty to know the value Of faithful
nurse Some Of these patient. self sscrf-
fcing girls viii manage 70 prepare the
meals and do the hoCsswork, TO keep tbs
children AZ school and away from the sick
room She win chop wood. carry up coal.
sweep. darn. and shop. stave OF tie cob
lector Of bills. and handle the family purse
with greater care than II IL were her own
The ages Of nurses vary from 10 20 %,
color. creed AID nationality cutting no
figure IN election or application The re-
cuireTneats for admission to the school
for nurses are: coed moral character.
mature age. good health. habit of ords9
and cleanliness and sufficient education 20
read and write tho English language well
enough 20 Ell cut blanks On which 20
record observations CT the sick The
school terra is eighteen Eouths.-ChacAS
Tines.
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