The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-11
LIFE AND WORK OF TRAINED
NURSES.
BY MISS EMILY j. MACDONNELL.
Sup't. of Nurses, Albany, n. Y. Hospital.
Iv.-Nursing the Insane.

The nursing of the nervous and insane
is not at present 80 popular branch of
the profession as is general nursing.
This may be accounted for by several
reasons. one being that the character of
the work is not properly understood.
There is an erroneous idea that any one,
especially any trained nurse, can care
for the insane. This is far from being
the case. To intellgently and success
fully minister to the mind diseased, re-
quires special and careful training and
the very highest order of training and
the very highest order of woman. The
latter half of this century has seen
many changes and reforms, and nowhe-e 9
we're such more needed or their good re-
suits more visible than in the care and
treatment of mental diseases. 1t is al
most impossible to realize that until
comparatively recently these were
treated by chains and whips, yet such
was the case until Christianity and
science opened mems eyes. The mad
house." the asylum" the hospital
such were the gradual changes. Not
fifty years ago Bedlam lin London) had
"show day." admission one penny.
Then there was no attempt at cure or
treatment and but cruel "care." The
patients were not classified; the vicious
criminal and the sensitive melancholic
were chained side by side, while. as for
the nursing, no respectable sane woman
was to be found among the attendants.
True, the world was never so wicked but
that some good woman could be found in
every condition OF life. but as a rule
those in charge of the insane were of
the very lowest type.
The first training school for nurses of
the insane was founded by DR.. Edward
Cowlee, at Mclean Hospital, Waverly,
Mass, and is the progenitor of all others
now existing, here or abroad. Such
give a two years course of instruction,
granting diploma on graduation. 1t
comprises a theoretical course on gen.
classes and lectures on their own spe.
cialty. These open to the student the
nature of the disease with which she
has to come in daily contact. make her
observe and understand the principles
underlying her work. If she is an in
telligent woman the work becomes one
of absorbing interest to her. 1t is a
question whether all specialties euca rs
nervous diseases, childrens diseases,
ETC., should not come in nursing, as
they do in the medical education, after
and not before, a general knowledge
has been obtained.
Now that many hospitals are adopting
the three years. training course, some
portion of the third year might profit
ably be spent in the study of nervous
patients. In connection with the two
year system. post graduate course of
third year in an insane hospital would
add very much to the value of the nurse.
Much has been done in training schools
for nervous diseases. yet much remains
to be accomplished and these are Sc
rious and important subjects for con-
sideration.
Another reason for the lack of popu.
larity of the work is the treatment of
the nurse. 1t is strange that those
whose business and life study it is to
deal with and bring back to health the
mind which has become diseased should
have SO little consideration for the
healthy mind which comes to them for
years training. Few insane hospitals
have nurses homes. In many of them
the nurses rooms are directly off the
wards, where, on or off duty. night or
day. they are never really free from
their patients. The meal times in a
general hospital. usually the merriest
hours Of the twenty four, are in the in
sane hospital one continuous strain and
are likewise spent in company of the
patients.
Then. too, particularly in private asy-
lums, the nurse is expected to do more
housework than she would in a general
hospital. We are often warned against
encroaching on the province of the ply.
sician. but no one seems anxious about
our encroaching on the province of
housemaid or scrubwoman. Many
hospitals are now working on the eight.
hour system, many more have the nine,
and it has repeatedly proved that
nurse cannot stand over nine hours,
work and remain healthy. mentally and
physically; yet the nurse in the insane
hospital is on duty for from twelve to
fourteen hours. sometimes without any
hours for rest and recreation. Until
those whose business it is see that these
things are remedied the work of nurs.
ing the insane will not become as popu-
lar as it should be, nor hold its proper
rank in our profession.
A century ago jacob, the leading
German expert on insanity, recognized
the fact that the insane would not be
properly cared for until cared for
by women who served for the love
of God. The present.day woman, the
New Woman in the true sense of the
phrase, did not then exist, and the
woman OF education and refinement did