The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-01
HINTS FOR THE SICK ROOM.
THINGS THE AMATEUR NURSE
SHOJLD BEAR IN MIND.
Arrangement OF the Sick Room-Care or
the Patlent-Questlon OF Ventilation
The Nurses DreSs-Llttle Matters OF
Importance to the Patients welfare


The Nurses Dress-Lltue Matters OF
Importance TO the Patients Welfare
If possible before the patient is put into
the room clean out OF it every superhuous
article OF furniture. II il is a contagious
case or fever of any sort take out rugs or
carpet. send away the porticres and wool
window curtains and table spreads, and in
case OF severely contagious diseases such as
smallpox or scarlet fever even the books
should he removed.
This sounds very cheerlees but the next
step changes all that
Put up snow white lawn curtains frlly
and dainty. that can be looped back for
plenty OF sunshine, and are easily washed.
Have white cotton bedspread The
white dimty spread used at hospitals is
both the best and prettiest washes "a
easily az sheet and does not have TO he
ironed.
Find dainty, pure white washable linen
for bureau and the many convenient little
tables Reserve one table entirely for
the doctors use for glasses, medicine
bottles, tray and teaspoon.
Keep this table always eSquisitey fresh.
II pretty linen spreads don't hold out, cover
1t with iresh towel every day or two, and
never leave soiled plate or tumbler in
sight of the patient, or give medicine or
milk In a glass once used.
II there is hot running water in the room
the nurse should rinse dishes az soon as
used. Otherwise they should be put out
aide the door, where a small table stands
ready to save steps.
IL the carpet * gone n strip Of mating
should be run from door "a bed and window
to soften the sound or a nurse may wear
noiseless slippers.
Bring up from the dining room or sitting
rnlat afa ND a.
| them near the window on a white covered
| stand. where the patient can watch them
without effort Do not have many scented
| flowers in a sick room and none at night
! when the patient Is weakest and needs
! the freshest air.
! The best plan is TO put a rose in a tall
vase or few carnations near the window
| prettily arranged. These give pleasure
without the bad results Of heavy odors
There should be a book or two about 30
/ that the patient may feel that the weary
hours could be lessened If he wished Most
sick people do not like being read to-a
! point for every nurse and kind friend to
bury deep in her inner consciousness:
they submit TO il sometimes but are usually
| restless afterward
| With the room white cheerful and or
quisitey clean next prepare the bed with
ali easily washable coverings cotton, not
linen. sheets and pillow cases and woolen
blankets that can be washed with anti
| SeDtlcS.
Plan TO have two sets of sheets and pillow
! cases always in use, 40 that every morning
the bed can be entirely changed, the sheets
/ removed and put out TO air for a coupla
OF hours and then warmed and folded
awar ready for the next morning with
two fresh from the laundry well warmed
at least twice a week
The patient should be moved to the left
side of the bed IA folded sheet il laid
on the right. then lifted for second rs the
sheet is opened to the right and the under
sheet pulled out Then the frosh sheet
il put over, and for a while an extra blanact
added TO avoid chill
The question of ventilation is very i'm
portant yet most easily managed A
screen IL absolutely essential
At night one window should be opened
a little at the top and one at the bottom,
and the screen should be placed around
! the bed During the day one window
! should always he opened, with screen in
! front Of it. out some two feet to allow the
| air to spread easily.
Every morning after the bed il changed