The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-12-15
HOW TRAINED NURSES ARE TAUGHT
TO TEND THE SICK.

mountain hopes Young
HOW TRAINED NURSES ARE TAUGHT
TO TEND THE SICK.
Course Of Instruction in the Illinois Train
ing School-Caro Of Patients In tho Big
Hospitals-A Look In 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
largo extent tho corps of nurses that have
charge Of the wards in both the county and
Presbyterian hospitals Acting on tho belief
that the value of tho services of a nurse is
in proportion to their intelligence, capacity
and refinement, the applicants to this school
arc subjected to a months trial, during which
they arc 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, medical lectures and
practical work in either hospital.
After year in the school pupils are ex.
pected to perform any service required,
whether it DO in the hospitals or in q private
house. Eighty young women arc now in
this training school and places could be pro-
vided for rs many moro il tho supply were
only equal to the demand. Tho day of the
convivial Sairy Camp is no moro, for people
are fast recognizing the fact that getting
we'll when ono has been sick is Us much a
matter of good nursing as hard dosing. Even
moro so in many cases. The majority of APP
plicants who desire training for this new pro
fession look forward to gaining u livelihood
thereby, and some hopo from it life of use
fulness among tho sick poor. The Illinois
Training school is us cheerful US any private
home, and tho young women who receive
training there leave when tho course is over
with great deal of reluctance.
Tho practical part of tho instruction is
very thorough and includes u knowledge of
tho management of helpless patients, makiAg
beds, giving baths i'll bed, bandaging, tho
dressing Of blisters, making poultices, and
preparing, cooking and serving delicacics
for tho sick. They are taught how to vcnti-
late rooms properly, to take observations for
the physician, care for rooms, and manage
convalcscents. They learn how to tako and
record the state of tho pulse, temperature,
appetite, delirium or stupor, breathing,
sleep, condition of wounds, and effect Of
medicine, diet, stimulant, or narcotic. A
superintendent has charge of tho entire
corps and is responsible to tho medical staff
for the proper performance of duty. A COM
| petent head nurse is in each ward to look
after both tho night and day nurses, and
with attending physicians gives Instructions
to the novices at the bedside Of patients
In addition to Il knowledge of nursing there
must be tho quality of housewives, for to
each ward is attached dining room for con-
valescents, and for tho care of that, with the
kitchen, store rooms, and linen closets, tho
head nurse must account.
A look In ut any of the wards in the county
hospital will reveal two, three, or moro 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 ministering to tho
wants of patients in tho various stugcs Of
sickness and recovery. All is quite, orderly
and cheerful. A physician enters and after
examining patient turns and speaks word
OF two to the nurse standing near. She gives
no answer, but goes to small room nd join
ing and returns i'll moment with bandagcs
and cotton, which sho hands the doctor, still
without word. There seems to be some
thing approaching tho military in the disci-
pline observed throughout tho whole estab-
lishment. On the opposite side of tho ward
lies woman hugging close to her fat
faced baby 1t is not her own, but one bor-
rowcd from the lying in ward upstairs. All
the wan faced women turn their eyes toward
tho laughing little thing us i'll fow mo-
ments u nurse bears it from tho great sunny
4 i. l.
attendants, some carrying very sick ones in
their arms, and others amusing tho little
ones that are able to sit up and hold toys or
books
The patients that linger on the borderand
of death are cared for in small rooms that
contain but three beds each. Here tho labors
of the nurse must be unremitting, although
little or no medicine is required. Many of
| the poor men and women lying in these beds
arc past all hopes of recovery, and it is only
| by tho administration Of patient, skillful at
tcntion that the fitful flame is kept alive u
few days longer. In tho well warmed halls
| tho convalcscents and some of tho women are
assisting nurse to fold linen for bandages.
Physicians are passing up and down in ele-
vators, and friends come i'll to visit tho pa-
ticnts Tho "Daughters Of the King" are
scattering beautiful blossoms everywhere.
Upon tho completion Of their labors in the
training school tho nurses, furnished with
diplomas signed by the managers and the
examining board Of tho hospitals and pro-
vided with 500 in money, begin their several
careers. Some get positions as heads of hos
| pitals, others respond to the ever increasing
| demand from private houses, and somo com.
mence life work among the sick poor.
| Chicago Times.
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