The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-04

ther duty often to direct to the physi-
clan, hospital or dispepsary that seems
best suited to the particular ailment of
the individual. Having large acquaint-
ance with the medical resources of the
city, and being influenced by nothing
but the desire to bring the best possible
service to the patient, she is the connect.
ing link between the two.
A nurse ordinarily starts on her
rounds at eight A. NJ. Her first visit
will be made to the patient about whom
she has been most disturbed. If a
fever patient. she will take his tempera-
ture, give bath, make the bed, pre-.
pare the food that he may eat. instruct
ing some one in the family in everything
she does. explaining why each is done
thus and so, and impressing anew with
what dare not be given, or the accidents
to be guarded against. Writing out the
time and amount of medicines due until
return, she goes to the next-a child ill
with pneumonia-takes her tempera-
ture. respiration and pulse, gives bath
or makes pneumonia jacket" tempts
the little one to drink the milk she has
probably refused from the others, and
bears in mind that she is to bring q
picture book in her bag for her next
time. Then. on to the old dame with
the "bad legs that need careful band.
nj thot
chronic, and will need daily dressing for
an indefinite period, and SO on through
out the day. down into the darkest base
ments, up to the top floors of the tallest
tenements, into alleys and rear houses,
touching in frendliness and sympathy
the poor, the unfortunate, sometimes
the SHINING. the victims of unjust social
conditions.
just as much as this nurse and friend
can bring into their lives and homes by
her knowledge. refinement and social
tact, just that much can she hope TO in.
huence. Her privileges do not end with
the leg bandaged, the bath given, the
lessons taught; she has a close view OF
conditions, perhaps causes, and though
she may not be able to cure or even
mitigate these, she can. bring the report
to the student of sociology as we'll as to
her dispensary physician. and thus
again be the link between the classes.
Thus the district nurse will find un-
ending opportunities for definite help,
physical. mental, moral and social, and
if she start with such qualities as will
give her perception of Der opportunities
and intelligence to meet them, she is
well prevPred TNs, g. .aei..si.s not
wholly to be developed in hospital
training; but in the wards of the large
acute hospitals, contact with and service
for the oft changing patients bring edu-
cation in many things besides technical
nursing. Thus. in making choice of
school for training in this work, those
connected with the large hospitals of
the great cities are preferable. Every
so-called specialist will desire the best
material for his particular work, but ex-
perienced educators of nurses, both here
and abroad, concur in the opinion that
while careful training will fit almost any
nurse for private duty" and while
under almost military supervision, the
ward-work can hardly go wrong, the dis
trict nurse must have such special quail
fications as | have referred to. Flor
ence Nightingale, though at first little
slow to see the ground that could be
covered, became generous in her praise
of what had already been, and enthusi-
astic of what could be, accomplished
but added: "She must be more accom-
plished and responsible than a nurse in
the hospital"
These authorities further agree that
the nurses Gospel should be: Order,
Health, Cleanliness. Friendliness; for
unless she is understood to be working
with and for the parish of church, her
work should be absolutely unsectarian,
that she may not be looked on as a
proselytizer, and her services be depre.
ciated as being cover for another pur-
pose.
NEW YORK CITY.