Evening star., 1902-08-30
M AKIN G. A LIVING
ODD OCCUPATION TAKEN UP BY
TWO YOUNG WOMEN.
Teaching the First Principles of Nurs-
ing in Their Specially
Fitted Flat.

Written for The Evening Star.
Two bright young women, each holding
the certificate of a trained nurse, have dis
covered an entirely new field of usefulness
for members of that profession. Having
a talent for imparting knowledge, rather
than a love of tending the sick they have
opened classes where well-to-do women in
private life may learn the rudiments of
trained nursing-enOugh to enable them to
assist the doctor intelligently in their
homes, in cases not serious enough to re-
quire the services of the professional nurse,
or where an invalid member of the family
has constantly to be cared for. AS almost
every mother and daughter of a household
has experienced at some time or other the
need of such knowledge the two nurses in
question have met with most gratifying
success Their classes are filled daily.
Though they conceived the idea, and
thought out their plans together, the two
young women decided that 1t would be
WiseSt to start out independently of each
other. They rented two small flats in diff
ferent parts of the city, three rooms Of
each of which-a bed room, kitchen and
bath-were fitted up models of their
kind for nursing purposes. They contained
all modern sick room improvements and
appliances. When class is in session It
moves from one room to another, accord
ing as the lesson of the day demands
How one should dress in the sick room
and personal hygiene in order to prevent
contagiOn is the first piece of instruction
given to the class. Each pupil is asked 10
provide herself with the necessary can and
apron, and a linen dress IS recommended.
for regular sick-room work is DONE and
street costumes might get damaged or be
very incOnvenient.
The care of the bed, how to keep it clean
and comfortable, is the next thing learned
The shaking of the mattress how to spread
the sheet, and how best to arrange the pil-
lows that the patient may lie easily and
be cool. Lifting the patient lightly and
gently in order to change the bedding or
shift the position is then mastered fol-
lowed by instruction in moving the con-
valescent, with many hints toward making
her comfortable on any available couch or
chair. For lessons, when practice of this
kind is required, woman is engaged by
the teacher to represent the patient.
Sick Room Hygiene.
After this the class turns its attention
to the model sick room itself Methods of
ventilation, the temperature, sweeping
without raising dust, dusting without dis
turbing the quiet of the room, are dis
cussed and explained. The most convenient
and sensible furnishing for the sick room
the use of the various appliances and uten-
sils the disinfection of these, the keeping
OF them clean and in order, and every point
OF sick room hygiene is thoroughly gone
into
lie CLASS lNen proceeds TO devote Its at
tentlon TO administering to the patient per-
sonally, beginning with the simplest duties
such as taking the temperature of the body
and keeping the daily register for the vis-
iting physician. The care of the teeth
hair and nails, both of the patient in bed
and the convalescent; bathing the patient
hot, cold and alcohol baths, when advis-
able; frequency of bathing; foot baths,
both in and out of bed, and prevention of
bed sores, are taught in order
Enemata, the methods of preparation
care of appliances, douches, etc. is then
taken up, after which the pupils are taught
the use of external applications such as
hot-Water bags, hot bottles, f1annels. salt
bags, iodine, liniment, and how to prepare
and apply mustard plasters and pou!tices
of various kinds.
The last few lessons are devoted to teach
Ing the most approved diets for patients in
various cases, the cooking of food for the
invalid, the dainty serving and best meth
DDS of feeding this.
Altogether this course, which is thor
oughly complete for its purpose consists
Of forty lessons, two being given to each
class in a week, and lesson lasting two
hours. Not more than six pupils are ad-
mtted to one class, SO that all may have
the benefit of practice as well as the In
struction The charge is dollar a les
son for each pupil, which enables the nurse
to realize almost three dollars an hour on
every class.