The Cairo bulletin., 1908-09-16
IN THE SICK ROOM
HINTS THAT NURSE WILL DO
WELL TO REMEMBER.
Occupation is Trying at the Best, and
Much Strain Can Be Avoided
by intelligent Methods
Of Work.

{ 1t is 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 AMI
whims OF the patient IL excessive.
| This mental strain Is what wears out
the trained nurse, because it IL cease
less, She goes from one case to an
other, and 1t is always the same thing,
with variations.
But you home nurses may, fortu,
nately, only have an illness In the fam
| lily once in a long time, so that you do
not have this endless strain, When 1t
does come take II quietly and call into
use all your self-reserve, for you may
need it.
A very Ill person. especially II de
lirious, may take a temporary dislike
to some members of the family, and
the queer part of 1t is that 1t Is gen
orally the patients fayorite when Wen.
You win have to use tact and not let
thing of this kind rutie YOU Re
member. it IS the disease and not the
real feelings Of the patient.
There may be hundred times
day that you will feel like resenting
something said or implied, but say
nothing and let it go. The more you
argue with a sick person the more set
the patient becomes.
The high fever is accountable for
much of this righteousness and you
viii always bear In mind that the pa
tient would be distressed If conscious |
of the fact that she is behaving I'M |
reasonably and giving unnecessary |
worry and unhappiness,
delirious patient may say some |
thing that will arouse your righteous 7
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 IL you go about it in
brusque way that will antagoni2e the
patient
IN trihes humor the patient, but in
things OF vital Importance Try quietly
to gain your point Never use force
with an III person; persuasion an
swers better
Never look tired and bored in the
sickroom 1t will annoy and distress
the patient.
We often hear some one say, after
there has been an illness in the fam
fly: Il never had my clothes OFF for
weeks"
That seems the acme of good home
to many women. According
TO the trained idea It is absurd II
adds nothing to the comfort of the pa
tient for you to be uncomfortable and
for weeks. II is so unnec-
sssary from every standpoint \ hos.
pital nurse is trained 10 take good
care of herself. otherwise she cannot |
take good care of her patient.
Never eat your meals in the sick
room; it annoys the patient and is not
for you
Never complain while in the sick
room of pain in your back from bend.
ng over the bed, though you will be
sure to have H. Don't sigh and say
you have a headache from staying in
luors so much. The patient may feel
bad as il is to give you this extra
york and responsibility for caring for
Ter. Don't add to her distress by re-
lining or plying yourself
II you have no member of the fam
~ 90 help you, you should accept the
lelp Of "a no,gabor: they are always
good about helping. too.