Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-04-16

I
therefore, that the charge nurse of the
sixth ward on January 81 violated the
rules of the hospital and was derelict
in that while she was on the ward and
in charge, she permitted second
nurse to supervise bathing a patient
We find that the second nurse who was
bathing Mrs Benoett at the time the
accident occurred violated the rules
IN supervising bathing while the
charge nurse was on the ward, and
also 10 calling upon other patients to
assist. Neither of these nurses were
permitted 10 return to their duties but
both we're summarily discharged.
Tee excuse which they give for VIC
lation Of the rules was that it bad
been an urusuaIly hard DAY, and they
ere anxious to get the work done.
Medicine had to he given to hospital
patients at this hour, which was also
the duty Of the charge nurse, and so
10 facilitate matters ttey agreed
among themselves that, while the
charge rurse was giving the medicine,
the second nurse would do the bathing
and so complete the work Of the day
by eight O'Clock, which is the hour
the day nurses go of duty and the
night nurses come on duty. We find,
therefore, that although the rules Of
J the hospital we're violated, the occur
ence which resulted in the scaldinR of
Mrs Bennett was au accident due TO
carelessness or mistaken Judgment on
the part of the nurse doing the bath
ing, and derelct Of DUTY on the part
| of the charge nurse in permitting
second nurse to supervise batbirg
In regard to the supervision of the
nurses and of the hospital in general,
we find that regular system is main
tanned whereby the charge nurse in
each ward submits a daily report to
the supervisor of nurses. which report
gives all statistical details, even to
minor details Of the conditions Of the
! patients and occurrences on the ward
Compiling these reports, the super
visor Of nurses makes report to the
physician, and the physicians daily
reuder full statistical reports to the
superintendent, which are filed and
preserved.
We find that the ward physicians,
of which there are three, each have
charge of six wards and make regular
rounds twice daily, when each patient
is observed and given medical care #
needed. The ward physicians are
aided az may be needed or required
By the superintendent of the hospita
and by the physician in charge Of the
Laboratory, who is medical director
and pathologist ard an expert in men
tai diseases
We Aud that the proportion Of
nurses TO patients is one nurse to eight
patients, which is more than some
other state institutions of like char
acter have, and is probably sufficient.
The nurses receive the following
wages, this schedule having gone into
effect March first
Female nurses, SIC per month for
the first three months; SIS per month
for the next three months, after which
they receive $40 per month. Female
nurses in charge of ward receive s22
per month Male nurses receive S22
per month for the first three months;
s25 per month for the next three
months, after which they receive S2S
per month. Male nurses in charge Of
ward receive $50 per month. Each
nurse also receives board, lodging and
laundry work We think these prices
are sufficient TO secure competent
nurses.
The training school for nurses, with
its two years course iu connection
With the hospital, adds to the interest
of the nurses and their efficiency. II
also attracts better class Of nurses
than otherwise would apply for the
positions.
We find the hospital at all times
clean and ordsrly, and every evidence
that the patients are receiving good
care and kind treatment
There are at all times over five huu-
dred patients in this hospital, and
there are from six hundred TO eight
hundred baths given every week, so
that the greatest care Is necessary to
prevent accidents of this kind and
other kinds as we'll; especially when
we consider the cha acter of the pa
tients, who are irresponsible and many
of whom seek thousands of ways to do
irrational and unexpected things; and
many also who, IN their insane 'io
lence, are destructive, homocidal and
suicidal In an institution of this
character eternal vigilance is the price
| II 20