Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-16
A NOBLE CALLING
HOW TRAINED NURSES ARE TAUGHT
TO TEND THE SICK.


Course of Instruction IN the Illinois Train
ing school-Care of Patients in the Big
Hospitals-A Look Ia the Wards.
Trained nurses have proved as much of
success in Chicago ms 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 tine county and
Presbyterian hospitals Acting on the belief
that the value of the services of a nurse is
in proportion to their intelligence, capacity
and refinement, the applicants to this school
are subjected 10 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 at once upon the
regular course of instruction, consisting OF
study from text books, rpedical lectures and
practical work in either hospital.
After year in the school pupils are ex- |
pected to perform any service required. |
whether it be in the hospitals or in a private |
house. Eighty young women are now in
this training school and places could be pro
vided for as many more If the supply were
only equal to the demand. The day of the
conyIvial 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 nursing as hard dosing Even
more 80 In many cases. The majority OF APP
| plicants who desire training for this new pro-
fession look forward TO gaining livelihood
thereby, and some hope from 1T a life of use
| fuiness among the sick poor, The Illinois
| Training school Is as cheerful as any private
home and the young women vino receive q
training there leave when the course is over
with a great deal OF reluctance.
The practical part OF the instruction is.
very thorough and includes a knowledge OF
the management of helpless patients, making
beds. giving baths in bed, bandaging, the
dressing Of blisters, making pouiuces, and
preparing, cooking and serving delicacies
for the sick. They are taught how to venti-
late rooms properly, to take observations for
the physician, care for rooms, and manage
convalescents They learn how 10 take and
record the state of the pulse, temperature,
appetite, delirium or stupor, breathing,
sleep, condition of wounds, and effect of
medicine diet, stimulant, or narcotic. A
superintendent has charge of the entire
corps and is responsible to the medical staff
|
petent head nurse is in each ward to look
after both the night and day nurses, and
with attending physicians gives instructions
to the novices at the bedside OF patients
in addition to a knowledge of nursing there
must be the quality OF housewives, for TO
each ward is attached dining room for con
valescents, and for the care OF that, with the
kitchen, store rooms, and linen closets, the
head nurse must account.
A look in at any of the wards in the county
hospital will reveal two, three, or more OF
these tender women clad in blue and white
striped dresses of seersucker, each CAPPED
with snowy white muslin and wearing long
white aprons and cuffs. They are going
about from cot TO cot nlinlstering to the
wants of patients in the various stages OF
sickness and recovery. All Is quite orderly
and cheerful. \ physician enters and aftel
examining patient turns and speaks a Wort
or two TO the nurse standing near. She give
no answer, but goes to a small room adjOiu
c ing and returns III a moment with handage
and cotton, which she hands the doctor, stll
e without a word There seems to be some
s thing approaching the military in the disci
e pline observed throughout the whole estab
| lShment. On the opposite side OF the war
o lies woman hugging close 10 her q ia
n faced baby. 1t is not her own, hut one boz
9 rowed from the lying in ward upstairs. A
e the wan faced women turn their eyes towar
e the laughing little thing as in few mt
d ments nurse bears it from the great sum
l. room. In the chiidren's ward are the sam
attendants, some carrying very sick ones /
" their arms, and others amusing the littI
/, ones that are able 10 sit up and hold toys c
20 books
1t The patients that linger on the borderlan
d of death are cared for in small rooms thl
IT contain but three beds each Here the Labor
of the nurse must be uuremitting, alyhoug
'e little or no medicine Is required. Many
" the poor men and women lying in these be,
a are past all hopes Of recovery, and it Is onl
in by the administration of patient, skilIful a
tention that the ftful flame Is kept alive
DO few days longer. In the well warmed hal
We the convalesceuts and some of the women al
Id assisting nurse to fold linen for bandage
e- Physicians are passing up and down IN el
it vators and friends come in TO visit the p
II tents. The Daughters of the King a
lg scattering beautiful blossoms every where.
at Upon the completion Of their labors N Il
n training school the nurses, furnished WI
nd diplomas signed by the mana gers and t
er examining board Of the hospitals and pr
ot vided with 500 IN money, begin their sever
w careers. Some get positions as heads OF hC
off pitfalls, others respond 10 the ever increasil
X demand from private houses, and some col
sc mence a life work among tie sick poor.
of Chicago Times.