Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-15

turbance to the patient or the household
but. like q good physician, see your bes
prearranged plans upset without any appar
ent loss Of temper or even annoyance.
In the sick roomEhe always cheerful, even
though the case be hopeless. In the house
hold, however, let your cheerfuIness be Of
| the kind that does not deceive. Outside OF
the sick room be perfectly frank and out.
spoken. Frequently the nurse should, il
her duties permit. retire to an adjoining
room when members of the family enter the
sick room, so that her presence may not in
| terfere with necessary private conversation,
| Occasionally, too, either the physician or
| patient may desire that you retire for a few
| moments that necessary remarks may be
passed between them which the patient does
not desire that you hear.
A PANIC IN THE SICK ROOM.
When an emergency rises keep cool. Do
not betray yourself into expressing any
doubts about what is to be done. If you lose
your head a panic in the sick room and even
in the household is inevitable. Under such
circumstances do not do anything because
you feel that you must do something; but
calmly and quickly decide what the trouble
is, and then do the best you can. You will
then have reason for what you have done,
and to be able to give good reason for your
doings will fortify you both in your own
estimation and in that of Others Be ready,
as far as possible. for the expected visits Of
the physician, and if since his last visit an
unfavorable change has occurred Inform
him Of the fact, if possible, before he enters
the sick room. Never allude to any un-
favorable symptoms or conditions in the
presence of the patient.
Some one has remarked that the nurse
should report to the physician at q proper
time any disobedience to his orders of
which the patient or the patients friends
may have been guilty. Such information
doctor will always consider as confiden-
rial, and as such he will act upon it with
out, however, betraying the source whence
his information came. This is no more
than justice to the physician whose is the
responsibility, and who is often held ac-
countable for life or death. Remember that
you must study your patient and his pecu-
liarities and be a keen observer of human
nature. Be an inspiration of hoA and con-
fdence. A soothing, bright and gentle
manner is an excellent capital, your best
stock in trade.
FLEXIBILITY OF MANNER.
Do not allow yourself to be taken BY sur
prise. If the unexpected occurs, be pre-
pared for it by cool head and a ready
knowledge of what to do. An excellent
plan is to frequently ask yourself, what
would do in such case, or if the disease
should assume this or that possible change,
and If you are unable to answer your q ues-
tion, then make it study until you feel pre-
pared for such possible emergency.
Self-command, quick discernment, ad- |
dress and ability to adapt ones self to ever
changing phases, are great necessities, and |
If you have the ability to control your tenn
Der and maintain composure under the |
thousand provocations given, it will afford |
you great advantages over those who can not, |
and prove greatly to your credit. There is |
one thing you will need to notice, viz: that |
the routine OF duties, il unrelieved by the |
variety OF an occasional respite OF O |
day or an evening will in time render
your work distasteful to you and less
to those for whom it is done.
A. little leisure is a necessity; an evening
out affords diversity; day among the well
is luxury; and all these necessities, diver
sions and luxuries restore lost mental and
nervous equilibrium aud "subdue irrita-
bility." Take regular exercise whenever
you can, and plan to take sufficient sleep
and rest. It is not possible to make q COM
plete list of the qualities to be desired in a /
nurse. If we should say truthfulness, pune
tuality, neatness, order gentleness, health,
self-respect, culture, virtue, religion, are all
requisites we would be correct. But we
would do better to say that possessing q |
womanly sense of honor, virtue and good
ness, with good judgment and experience
one cannot 20 very far astray.
SOME DESIRABLE QUALITIES.
To say little and to the point; to be
punctuai without being burdensome; to be
neat without raising q dust; to be orderly
without killing the patisnti to bs sslf-rc.