The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-13

nurse. She needs certain angelic traits of
character to be a good nurse. and much
knowledge to be a trained nurse.
OF all the virtues that a nurse requires
patience is foremost; it must be a long
enduring patience, too for patience that
endures for a while and then breaks out
in whirlwind of passion and scorn is
worse than none at all By strange
perversiOn of terms we call the sick per-
son the patient, yet sickness brings out
the true nwardness of character and
breaks down the self-restraint of polite
breeding and education. 1t would be FAR
more appropriate to call the nurse the
patient, for she has to endure the whlm-
steal vagaries the peeVishness. the com
planning and even the abuse of a fretful
tongue and a wayward will without any
manifestation of unwillingness without
any thought Of crossing the patient or
any open contradiction or opposition This
patience requires pliancy, yet firmness
1t requires fnesse TO apparently acquiesce
in all things, yet gain the desired end by
that very acquiescence. Above all it de-
mandS colossal good nature and consum-
mate tact with cast iron physical endur-
ance. 1t is the latter rock upon which
so many aspirants to the ranks of the
professional nursehood break; they have
all ether requisites, but not the strength
for constant vigil and continuous work
Kindness "a Great Qualification.
Fully as important as patience in good
nursing is kindness; a good nurse cannot
be too kind, but this must be distinguish
from sympathy. Many a good physician
even has suffered failure or early death
from too much sympathy; he suffered
more mentally than the patient, knowing
of or toreseeing dangers of which the
patient was fortunately ignorant. SYM
pathy, unalloyed with judgment and dis
erection, becomes hysterical; the mind and
hand falter; the heart faints at the dread
necessity of inf1icting pain or discomfort
although it is for the good of the patient
sympathy is feeling with the patient or
sufferer; making his pains and sorrows
our own. Kindness is an allied quality
which disposes us to do good to others
proceeding from our goodness of heart; II
is the active of sympathy, which is but a
passive feeling which leads US to lose time
in vain weeping and idle compassion when
we should be up and doing
In the majority of cases the physician
will always recommend the patient and
kind nurse, the one who takes things to
heart, even though her actual nursing
knowledge may not be extensive In fact
many physicians are very shy Of the
trained nurse who knows every thing, for
a little knowledge is a dangerous thing
especially if the person is not obedient
to orders. This is the third qualification
IN good nurse, for one who departs from
the mandates of the physician and does
things her own way or does things per-
1unctorily, is an encumbrance and worse,
for she absolutely endangers the health
OF her patient. she must be entirely ODE
oient to the physician, absent or present:
she must carry out his directions to the
letter; she must neither add to or deduct
an iota from them
1t follows from this that anv woman
II she be patient. wind and gentle ohe
dent and ready fer all duties howeve~
1rksome they may be, and If she be neat
and clean in her person and SURROUNDINGS
may be good nurse, in fact, the best
nurse for her own kin and friends As
for knowledge, natural tact will supply
some Of that; the-doctor will surely give
directions with such clearness that thew
may be followed.
Should BE the PIeasantest Room.
The sick room should claim the first
attention. 1t should be the pleasantest
room IN the house, even though some one
mas to be turned out of it. 1t should
be as large and airy as possible, but free
from draughts. If il can be arranged let
the windows have south or west aspect