The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-11
NURSING SPECIALISTS.

expert Diphtherin," expert Insan-
ity," Expert Alcoholic" Etc, Is
the Way the Trained Nurse Offers
Her Services.
New York, May 9.-To realize the va
riety of interests in human ills one
should hear a group of nurses discuss
ing their choice as to cases. The aver
age nurse, when she starts out fresh
from hospital training, is ready to
tackle anything in the category, but in
Yarlably after professional experience
her card bears such bracketed proyjsos
as expert diphtheria," expert insan-
lty," expert alcoholic" Women
only" mo incurables."
Maternity cases for me- said one of
a private club of nurses taking tea in
company. Il love TO cuddle the babies
| ana feel that l Influence their future
50 far as their physical welfare goes.
Even a delicate baby, if treated Judi
| ciously the very first weeks, has a bet
ter chance in life"
Maternity cases. Mush and milk!
Give me something worth while when
l work." declared a capab BILE looking
woman. Il wasn't two years in service
before l marked off every speciality on
the list but surgical Nothing stirs nv
blood so much as an emergency case.
Some acute operation 50 urgent and
delicate that the patients life is prac-
tically in my hands after the surgeons
have withdrawn"
of course, the specialists head the
profession said a gentle young rurse,
but hourly nursing appeals to me par
ucuIarly The hourly nurse benefits
people who otherwise would he neglect
ed. There's a rheumatic cripple all
alone in a west side furnished room
who never has a creature TO do any,
thing for him except the daily hours
attendance l give. A boy brings in
two meals a day for him, and only
stays long enough to set the tray
down. Others are equally as isolated.
l often do as much cleaning up as
nursing, and sometimes buy foods of
various kinds and prepare them prop
erly. if a stove is handy"
II like the cases that it's some risk
to nurse" put in another voice 1.-TWO
out-oftown diphtherias, one scarlet
fever, three weeks quarantine is my
record since seeing you last. The doc
tors say there are fewer and fewer
good nurses to be had for contagious
cases, even with the increased knowl-
edge regarding prevention"
My preference is for incurables,"
said a bright young woman. Chronic
cases offer so little chance for sclsnce
To work Upon that neither doctors ncr
specialists are much interested in them.
They're doomed to a monotonous round
CT ailments and discomfort. l feel anx-
iolts to hearten them up the moment
we become acquainted"
- take man for my charge" said a
quiet looking nurse. These nurses with
women only on their cards are dodg-
ing their duty, 1 think. No man can
make a patient as comfortable as a wo-
man can. My first professional call
was on a bachelor in lodgings. 1t was
10 p. m, and as I packed my bag
l own l felt timid and was half in
clined to refuse the case. went, how
ever, and was of real use to the debili-
tated creature, who needed some one
to understand and sympathize with
him. The male nurse is awkward and
unresponsive. And there is proof of
their smoking at the bedside of their
patients"
A Matter of Taste.
"Cranks are my speciality" stated an
other member. And, although not
catalogued in the list of diseases and
only classed as general nursing, the
successful treatment of cranks de-
mands special talent. The moment
crank becomes annoying ana MS peo-
pie consult a doctor, the latter recon-
mends a trained nurse to mount guard.
A mere companion is neither discreet
nor disciplined enough for the charge,
and a maid or valet is too irresponsi-
BILE. Although five years in service, I
have had but only bodily sick patient
to attend Cranks are generally good
pay and steady employment. But only
a specialist in nervous and alcoholic
cases can imagine the wear and tear.
Its a peculiar case, Miss b. we
might as we'll tell you is my usual
to a patient. And then
for a couple of weeks I'm busy watch
ing the case comparing my opinions
with those which the family have for |
mulated. I abandoned my last patient !
because she took to night amusements. |
l was willing to abet her daytime |
uuirks and crochets, but when it came |
to playing at meals in the dining room |
at 3 a. m, conducting uncanny games |
In the nursery before daylight, making |
bluffs at fencing. parlor tennis and |
other sports at the time sacred to sleep, |
| resigned. Another patient had the |
mania, a rage for conven- |
fences. She had closets and closet |
shelves built everywhere about the |
house. partitions run up through hand |