Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31

Is the first lesson to be learned. Miss
Nightingale, the model for all nurses,
says, "All discipline must be under the
matron; otherwise nursing Is impossi-
ble.' The nurse must not ask the rea-
son why but must promise to obey the
1natrons and physicians orders. Were
the nurse to attempt to usurp the
functions of the medical man it would
establish a dangerous precedent; her 1
function and that of the physician are Y
utterly different
No woman should be encouraged to
devote herself to the profession OF
trained nurse unless she is ready to
accept much that must necessarily
prove to be uncongenial. This she
would better realize at the very be-
ginning Of her career There is little
romance to be found in nursing except
in novels; in real life it is hard work,
almost entirely devoid of sentiment
Contrary to the general idea. trained
nurses do not marry as rule. They
seem to become SO absorbed in their
chosen calling that they do not care to
abandon it, and it has been found that
the married nurse is not so desirable
as she who is free from domestic res
straint When they do enter wedlock,
however, it must be confessed that
they make ideal mistresses of house,
holds. A learned writer declares that
the trained nurse excels in every other
field which she enters She becomes
the best matron, the best governess,
the best companion, the best wife and
mother, the best friend and counselor
The great Ii Hung Chang once stated
that of all the foreign forces that
might be sent to conquer China the
only one likely to succeed would be the
trained nurse.
In recent years great difficulty has
been experienced by hospital authori-
ties in almost all the cities Of the
country in interesting really desirable
young women in nursing as a profess
sion. Notwithstanding all the apparent
advantages held out by the hospital
schools and the added assurance Of a;
good position in life, the average
American girl does not appear to fancy
the life of trained nurse. Female
stenographers and typewriters abound,
but the number of young women who
are willing to take up the profession
Of nurse is comparatively small, This
is due in part to the long and arduous
preparation now required. Girls are
seldom taken by hospitals as student
nurses under the age of twenty one
Besides, they must have had fair
education, and their homo surround-
ings must have been Of a satisfactory
nature.
The soft footed nurse in her pretty
Bingham gown and snowy cap and
apron is delight to the recipient Of her
ministrations and an unfailing source
Of comfort to the physician, who trusts
her to obey his orders implicitly. Neat
ness of attire is thing insisted on, and
every hospital or school has it's own
uniform soft blue is the usual color,
because it never offends the eye and
is becoming to most people. Much OF
the Bingham is imported direct from
Scotland, for it must be of a texture
that will stand wear and tear and fire.
auent acquaintance with the washtub.
One cannot but admire the noble wo-
men who sacrifice their entire lives in
caring for the sick. However, one
should not enter the profession with
out a thoughtful consideration of the
onerous duties entailed. All women
cannot become Florence Nightingale!
or Clara Bartons and receive public
recognition. Most of those engaged II
the occupation are never heard of ane
have no honors awarded them. They
meet with gratitude sometimes bu1
more often have no reward save thai
of the conscience,
JOHN E. STURGIS.