The Jersey City news., 1892-05-18
G. CARING FOR THE sick.
Common Sense and Tact
Essential to Make a Sue
CeSSful Nurse.
HUMOR THE PATIENT A LITTLE.
Fresh Air and Sunshine Excellent
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Clean
illness Required.
HUMOR THE PATIENT A LITTLE.

born, not made. am inclined TO DelieNe
this to be true. One reason for this be-
lief is that so many Of the best nurses are
not trained. that they have fallen into
their life work naturally or by force OF
circumstances. OF course, the natural
nurse, with good training, with a knowl-
edge of all the modern improvements"
in the art of nursing. must always be pre-
ferred to the natural, unframed nurse.
But If the latter have tact, she can ac-
complish wonders.
Tact with patient means much. Hon
esty is not always the safest policy IN the
sick room Above all, humor patient 10
some extent. Make her believe she Is
all-important' and If she complains oil, or
cries out, from pain, do not tell her she
ought to bear it better. Talk about it,
svmpathize with her, and change the
subject as soon as You can. Above all,
be cheerful. Talk of bright future
Don't show yourself despondent, even III
serious cases.
/ heard recently of young man who
dearly loved his wife, who mad been a
consumptive for several years. Although
he was almost broken-hearted at the
separation which he knew was drawing
nearer day byoday. he encouraged the
vain hope his loved one seemed to feel
in her ultimate recovery Three even
in0s before her death he brought her
white dress, ready-made. and the young
wife tried it on, and together they con
suited as to where it needed change. She
felt too tired to care much, but reused
herself to please him. and though his
heart WAS breaking at the ghastIy picture
she made, he bravely talked OF happier
times TO come.
UNsELFIsHNEsS NECESSARY.
This is tue character sick person
needs around, strong, brave. unselfish
character. One who is not afraid to force
the invalid to do what is necessary and
vet can pretend to some extent, to let
the iuvalid's whims govern him. Many
a fever might be avoided by pretending TO
humor the patient. remember case or
stomach poisoning which caused the
victim maddening pain; she prdnced
up and down the room bowling
with pain. Her elder sister tried
gently, TO persuade her that her conduct
was boisterous, unladylike. The invalid
was made almost wild at the notion OF
person standing calmly, sweetly by. bid
ding her be quiet, with all her body on
fire with the poison. She said she would
have welcomed a man who could swear
for her. she felt so wild. Finally the
Doctor arrived and into his ears she
poured her troubles. While perhaps at
heart not as sympathetic as her sister, ne
appeared moro so, when he said. Yes,
know YOU must suffer terribly. know |
couldn't bear it as well as you do.' he
appealed to the patients pride
and acknowledged her suffering. He
calmed her and went away with the
blessings of the patient, although l have
no doubt that the case was a compara-
lively unimportanJ one to him, only he
knew how to treat It,
ALL SORTS AND CONDITIONS.
NJ Eutl mn
tients Some love to have fuss made
over them, others hate it, just as some
plants need sunshine while Others live in
shadow, just as some people always show
their feelings while others hide them. If
the patient longs for company, think
solitude makes him morbid. a dangerous
condition; il, however, patient hates to
be visited and talked at, and sympathized
With, the rritability which might be oc-
casioned by forcing visitors upon him, is
also dangerous. Never seem in haste to
leave sick person, never walt upon pa
tient hurriedly. Remember, too, that a
trifiing flower, a bit Of fruit or pretty
picture is refreshing and welcome. III
letters come, of interest to the whole
family, with cheerful news, read them iu
the sick room. Avoid all discussions of
unpleasant household affairs on The one
hand, but ON the other don't let the pa
tient be ignored in happy discussions so
tnaU ne nllRht ieel neRieCtsu. we uVe
now discussing how to care for the sick.
In another article we will consider VIII,
the invalid can do tor himself and for
others. would say TO nurse. do not be
discouraged aud say your iDvaiid Is ex-
acting. Many are, but they might often
be less so were they handled carefully,
and perhans these practical hint,
CLEANED from actual experience, may teud
to make the labor of nursing mure bless
ed to nurse aud patient.
SCRUPULOUS NEATNESS ESSENTIAL
A patient must CAT and drink. t. live,
and the nurse who tempts an appetite has
won nalf the battle. Never road up Il
tray. 1t is much better to bring little
which looks tempting than an oversupply.
which might prejudice the patient. Never
let your bill of fare hecome monotonous.
Aud above all be scrupulously neat. Ii
YOU are neat while in health 1t is easy to
understand how an invalid requires per-
fection In such matters.
To mSintain cleanliness in the sick
room without noise, hustle or disturbance
is an essential point in the fine art of
nursing. Prevention means much. Al
low no litter of empty bottles, sticky
spoons, unwashed glasses to accumulate
anywhere WITHIN it. Rags. paper, dis
used podtlces, fruit skins are even worse;
throw all such into waste basket, which
should stand just outside the door aud be
emptied ut least three times hetwiXt day.
light and dark. No matter how tempt
ing aud handy the sick room fire may be,
never burn such things IN it, Almost in
variably the smell will come out Into the
room aud oppress the sensitive sick per-
ception, though the nurse herself may be
insenslble to it.
FRESH AIR.
Never forget the priceless value of
fresh air and sunshine. This does not
mean chilling the patient nor subjecting
him to draughts. The temperature
should never fall below sixty-iive degrees,
and in illness it should be kent at troul
sixty eight TO seventy degrees. or course,
in extremely cold weather the windows
must be closed anu the room aired when
the patient is asleep. Al this time he can
be covered from head to foot with a
blanket, the face protected and window
opened for few minutes. The extra
covering must be left on until the ther-
mometer again registers sixty-eight de-
grees. In ordinary mild weather the
window can be lowered from the top
about two inches and Il strip of fl nuel
tackled over the opening TO prevent Il
draught. Ii the window does not oDen
at the top piece OF board two inches
wide and exactly fitting the window
frame eau be put under the lower sasn.
The patient should bs ker5 away from
tha NIndOw