Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08


1T is the triumph of supremacy" says that
angel of the Crlmea, Florence Nightingale,
and we shall quote her more than once, "to
become unconsciously supreme. Nowhere
is this decision more blessed than in a sick
room. The decisive nurse is never peremp-
tory, never loud. She is distinct, it is true;
there is nothing more aggravating TO a sick
person than whisper, but she is not loud.
Though quiet, she never walks on tiptoe, she
never makes gestures; all is open and above
board. She knows no diplomacy or finesse.
Her touch is steady and encouraging. You
never catch her watching. She never slams
the door, of course, but she never shuts 1t
slowly, and she never talks behind it. She
pokes the fire skillfully, with firm, judi
cious penetration. She caresses one kind Of
patient with genuine sympathy; she talks to
another as if she were WELL"
Nursing not only includes obedience of the
physicians orders as to medicine, but i'm
plies personal thought OF and attention to
everything that will augment the patients
comfort, the warmth, quiet, ventilation and
cleanliness of the sick room, and the OBJ
servance and noting of symptoms and the
prevention of contagion.
The nurse must be intelligent and thought
full. She must love the work, not from any
romantic idea that she is an angel of mercy,
or from the mistaken notion that it is life
OF howery ease. She may prove herself as
welcome as an angel and find fowery path
way at times, but there will be times when
her work is arduous, her responsibilities
heavy, and her labors duties.
OBEDIENCE A FIRST REQUISITE.
There will be times when your judgment
may not coincide with the physicians Or
uers. Remember that it is your province to
nd rrha :.
use your best intelligence "a good nurse
is very careful to do not always what seems
to her best, but what 1t seems to her the doc
tor Will best approve" Even though YOU
may not see his reason, or if you know it
and disagree with it, never permit yourself
to shake your patients confidence in him by
any look or word OF criticism. The nurse is
the connecting link between the patient aud
physician; both trust her, and she should be
eminently worthy of that trust. Let the
doctor find you faithful to his directions,
whatever your like or dislike of him may
be, and never conceal from him anything
that you think bears upon his treatment OF
the case. Be plain, frank and truthful.
Your dress should be clean, neat and Of
kind that bears washing. 1t should not
touch the floor, and should be of strong
material, with but little trimming. Aprons,
cuffs and collars should be in perfect order,
clean and frequently changed.
The apron which you wear while serving
the patients food should never be the same
that you wore while doing other and less
cleanly work. Whether a nurse will wear
the cap of the hospital is matter for her to
decide. Physicians generally prefer to have
them do SO, and as generally do they express
the opinion that jewelry is out OF place in q
sick room.
Your underclothing should be changed
frequently; in many hospitals nurses are re-
quired to change everything twice a week,
and the same is true often in the household.
High heeled boots have no place in the
sickoroom and the same is true Of any heavy,
squeaky, or clumsy covering Of the feet.
Slippers made strong and easy give good
satisfaction to the nursed, and the patient
and many an easy, light boot gives no an
noying noise. In extreme cases have sug-
gested bottoming the stockings with buck
skin soles, or sheepskiD, and in mild eli
mates this arrangement has come into use
not only in nursing, but while one is en-
gagged in other household duties.
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS.
The hair should be firmly held in place
and plainly dressed, and the head and hair
should be washed once a week or oftener.
Your personal cleanliness is an absolute
essential. The sensibilities of the sick are
more easily crossed than those of the we'll,
and they notice unpleasant things which
they would overlook i: they were well. The
breath should be kept sweet, the teeth
brushed, the body bathed often, and the !
hands should be what is possible in almost |
every case-beautlul. They may not be so
by neglect but little of the right kind of .
care every day and 10, their ugliness is gone
and they are instruments of gentleness and
beauty and useiulnes,l Keep the finger
nails we'll pared, not torn off, and they
should be brushed every day at the base,
and also at the end.
This caution is for the benefit of others as
we'll as for yourself, for many patient has
been poisoned by septic and other matters
carried by uncleanly attendants. Every /
crack, pin-prick, hang-nail, blister or scratch
IS possible receptacle for septic and other
poisons. Within short time 1 have known
four instances where physicians have been
severely and one fatally poisoned by receiv-
ng septic matter through slight scratches
IN the finger. If your hands or fingers |
lave any abrasions on the skin they should |
De we'll protected by proper dressings, court
3lster or by fnger-stalls. Have your own
owel. and use it and use no other.
The hand, too, should be trained to
Iccuracy, steadiness, evenness OF motion. A
thousand times you will wish for a steady |
land and if a thousand times you have it
-ou will be the gamer every time. Aceus-
ON yourself to acquire this by dropping,
y count, fluids from a Bottle and in other
Ways that your judgment may suggest.
j. B. S.