The Washington bee., 1908-04-11
In THE SICK ROOM
HINTS THAT NURSE WILL DO
WLLL TO REMEMBER.
Occupation Is Tt, .ng at the Best, and
Much Strain Can Be Avoided
by intelligent Methods
of Work.

It is a great art to be a good sick
nurse.
1t is surprising how individuality
comes out in the sickroOm. The pa
tents individuality shows itself by
the patient being either gentle and
patient or irritable and unreasonable.
The individuality of the nurse will be
expressed in the way she meets these
developments of the patient.
The strain on the part of the nurse
to hold herself in check, to subdue her
own individuality and adapt herself
to the temperament, moods and
whims of the patient is excessive.
This mental strain is what wears out
the trained nurse, because it is cease
less. She goes from one case to an
other, and it is always the same thing,
with variations.
But you home nurses may, tortu-
nately, only have ar illness in the fam
fly once in long time. so that you do
not have this endless strain. When 1t
does come take it quietly and call into
use all your self-reserve, for you may
need it,
A very i'll person, especially II de-
lirious, may take a temporary dislike
to some members of the family, and
the queer part of it is that it is gen
orally the patients favorite when well.
You will have to use tact and not let
a thing Of this kind rufle you. Re
member 1t is the disease and not the
real feelings of the patient.
There may be a hundred times a
day that you will feel like resenting
something said or implied, but say
nothing and let it go. The more you
argue with sick person the more set
the patient becomes.
The high fever is accountable for
much Of this righteousness and you
will always bear in mind that the pa
tient would be distressed if conscious
Of the fact that she is behaving un-
reasonably and giving unnecessary
worry and unhappiness.
A delirious patient may say some
thing that will arouse your righteous
wrath and your first instinct is to 'an-
swer back" But hold onto yourself
and say nothing.
Be firm in giving the regular treat
ment at the regular times. The pa
tient may object, then blame you af-
terward for not having done all things
needed. By coaxing and using tact
you can have your way about it,
but you cannot if you go about it in a
brusQue way that will antagonize the
patient.
In trifles humOr the patient, but in
things of vital Importance try quietly
to gain your point Never use force
with an i'll person; persuasion an
swers better.
Never look tired and bored in the
sickroom; it will annoy and distress
the patient,
We often hear some one say, after
there has been an Illness IN the fam
lily: 4 never had my clothes of for
weeks"
That seems the acme of good home
nursing to many women. According
to the trained idea it is absurd. 1t
adds nothing to the comfort Of the pa
tient for you to be uncomfortable and
unhygieniC for weeks. 1t is so unnec-
essary from every standpoint. A hos
pital nurse is trained to take good
care Of herself, otherwise she cannot
take good care of her patient.
Never eat your meals in the sick
room; it an1oys the patient and is not
wholesome for you.
Never complain while in the sick
room of pain in your back from bend
ing over the bed, though you will be
sure to have it. Don't sigh and say
you have a headache from staying in
doors so much. The patient may feel
bad as it is to give you this extra
work and responsibility for caring fol
her. Don't add to her distress by re
pining or plying yourself.
If you have no member of the fam
fly to help you, you should accept the
help of a neighbOr; they are always
good about helping, too.