The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30

ries them over many hard places. Inc
theoretical training brings me intensest
interest In what would otherwise Je most
wearing cases. The nurse finds she is
learning TO think and TO find, what she
never knew before. how great a scientlnc
Interest human lifs can show. She has
her part In the laboratory, where ma
lures secrets are being brought 10 light,
and all this makes her bear with all that
is physically disagreeab.e.
GOOD GENERAL EDUCATION.
The standard in this theoretical train
ing has now become 80 high that an ap-
rlicant In a school must have good
general education, TO be received. Lee
lures are given by TIE doctors belonging
TO the different departments. The pupils
take notes and arc Afterwards quizzed
upon them in class by the head nurse.
Text books on physiology, anatomy
n ateria medica, the practice or medicine
and nursing are used. and have - be
closely studied as examinations are fire.
ouent. Special attention Is given 10 Ma
terra Medlca. as a nurses duties require
a good knowledge OF drugs.
OBEDIENCE THB FIRST LEssoS.
IL IS impossible in an article such as
this TO do more than to touch upon many
points in the life of a nurse. its disci-
pline and har,iships. The first and great
est il obedience to orders. She has TO
learn that she has absolutely no VIII,
must ask no questions. make no sugges-
tons only absolutely obey her seniors
and doctors She IS responsible for no
mistakes in the orders given her, no mat
ter what she thinks, she must carry them
out. She is carefully taught the etiquette
between doctor and nurse. She Is en-
tirely subordinate to him, not as his in
fartor parsOullly. hut OfflClallE.
The life is one of utter self-abneSat.on.
Such training in patience. self-control.
self-reliance. GOODNESS Of Judgment, I'M
selfishness, and tact. canno; be obtained IN
any other school. and when these strong,
cool-headed women are going out into
the world, whole classes OF them each
year, there Is no wonder they have made
for themselves the position they hold.
| The number Increases, and so does the
demand, for the medical profession finds
them tower of strength and Is generous
| enough I'm many cases TO give TO the
| skill and endurance OF the nurse the mer-
IL OF saving the life OF the patient
The heads OF training schools stu see
| much TO be done, and so each year raise
| the standard OF their work. Since this
profession has attained its high position
they ind good material always 10 be got
| ten, not only in the point Of education
|
are such important factors in the max
| ing OF a successful nurse. A head nurse
of repute has said she would receive
into her school only those whose ere
| dentials showed them to be ladies, as II
| was impossible, in two years OF train
| ing, TO inculcate such instincts and habit:
| of refinement and dignity as were neces-
| sary for a nurse TO possess. To these
| they must have been ITO the manor
born" and accustomed in their home life
| MUST DE- LADY.
How little do those know whereof they
| speak when they say a nurse cannot bt
a woman Of refinement; that this training
OF itself must make the sensihilitie.
| coarse and hard. Probably this woul,
| be so with a woman whose nature was IN
| some degree coarse and hard. her OWL
| characteristics becoming accentuated un'
| I'll she would be utterly incapable o
| taking that higher view Of her profess
sion which lifts the woman out Of her
self and surroundings. and causes her &C
see herself, not shrinking back from
what is repulsive and feeling herself de
graded in doing mental Offices, but as al
| instrument In Gods hands OF good ane
mercy 10 the suffering
Hasa DUAL LIFT.
To the nurse worthy Of this profession
there Is no age, sex, condition. or color
| only some poor sufferer needing her ten
| der ministratiOn, which may mean fal
| more than the care of the body, and b.
ar example OF patience and gentlenes'
may turn the mind 10 spiritual things
| To the nurse as 10 tho doctor notnin'
which pertains TO this Natural Body
is coarse, end when on duty II is Will
nature she is dealing. Her life is dua
| ~. To .ff h.r In frflf
OF office, all belonging 10 1t slips off too
and she is then as other women viii
her thoughts and feelings. only II is no
| the strong who rouse her interest, bu
rather the sight of the feeble and suffer
ing appealing TO her instinct OF helpful
| ness.
| THE GERM THEORY.
The great revolution In medicine an
surgery brought about by the germ theo
~. also brought about a revolution II
hospital management IL was at one
demonstrated that no matter how grea
the surgeons skill and antisepuc care
that still his hands were practically tie
unless ne could command the services o
nurses trained in this new creed, 10 who's
skill and care he could entrust his cases
His work was only the beginning; upo
them depended the result, and 80 the rev
school; when in teaching this new theor,
the great principle was laid down tina
after all the practical application OF
IL was only the gospel OF cleanliness, IN
text OF which was that for hospital
nothing could be too clean.
But antiseptcs, even with the mos
sklllful surgeons. cannot supply the grea
work OF the nurse. By her quiet self
confidence. she gains that Of the nervou
excited patient and so stands guard owe
the mental as well as the physical pow
ers. 1t is her cheerfulness and hopeful
ness, her tact In drawing the patient
thought from self. which brings abou
that quietress in which we are told /
strength.
NOT AN EASY IIFR.
No woman should take up this nurse
work with the thought that she vii
have an easy life; that her wage Wi
not be earned by the sweat OF her brow
IL seems well paid until the remem
brance comes OF the long. weary night
spent sitting or kneeling on a hard foe
by the sufferers bedside. using ever
means known for soothing pain, Away
with patience and gentleness; striving
bring peace and comfort. often In vail
receiving the last sigh, and closing IN
eyes OF the dying. and then preparin
the dead for the grave. Who. that Ia
ever seen the hard lives Of these con
secrated women. consecrated to the grea
work OF healing. could think their mon
ey easily earned.
THE STRAIN GREAT.
Statistics show what the strain OF tn
life does, for as a class nurses are short
lived. few living out their three score an