Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-06-09

my footsteps, but free to roam at will
among these woods and fish these
streams of Uncas fame. I rather pride
myself that I might well be styled such
a bad boy as Thomas Aldrich so de-
liciously writes about.
Interested in All Connected With Nor
witch.
You will ask what this has to do
with the hospital and what we are
here to celebrate. Nothing, certainly,
unless it makes evident to you why
am interested in everything connected
with Norwich and why L appreciated
the invitation 10 take part in this
gathering tonight.
Then, again. I look upon it as a priv
ilege to address this graduating class
as you are about to go out into the
world to alleviate It's sufferings- I
should not feel that / did my duty
did I not try to impress upon you the
noble possibilities of the career which
you have chosen for yourselves. Most
of the careers which we select in this
world have only the object of making
voting ourselves to the good of the
human race Nursing may be taken
up in this same spirit but. when such
is the case the highest efficiency and
usefulness will not be attained
Devotion and Desire to Be Helpful.
My own experience teaches me that
there are nurses and nurses. There
are those who, from the moment they
enter the sick room, have a benehcent
influence which inspires almost imme-
diately a calm confidence and tends to
soothe and benefit the patient There
are others who breathe but spirit of
antagonism and who retard rather than
help the pitients recovery. Some have
this soothing influence Unborn in them
while others have to acquire it. l
know of nc way of acquiring it except
by approaching each case in the spirit
of devotion and with an earnest desire
L - -
ity.
1t would be superhuous for me to
enumerate the countless little minis
trations that are so necessary for the
best result in a sick room, for, after all,
that is what you have been studying
here during your course in the train
ing school, l shall, therefore, mention
but one or two of the attributes which
seem to me of vital Importance IN the
makeup of a good trained nurse.
When you enter upon nSw Gaze.
make up your mind that it shall be
your supreme effort to adjust yourself
as far as you are concerned, there shall
be no friction. Sometimes your SER
vice will be in household where the
occupants are poor or where the ma
chinery does not run smoothly. In
such cases it will be necessary to exer-
else self-restraint and sometimes self
sacrifice, but your calling is worthy of
such sacrifice.
Tact is Needed.
One of the most dificuIt experiences
YOU win have to contend with will be
TO work in perfect unison and good will
with the servants of the house, and
here will come in the necessity for the
exercise of a tact such as you will,
perhaps, never have greater need of.
The fatal thing will be to give them
the impression that you feel yourself
their superior. Rather make them feel
that you are both, for the moment.
working together for the good of your
patient and that you count upon their
assistance to that end. You should
thus gain their respect and willing CO.
operation.
Your effectiveness will be largely in
creased if you improve yourself in
every way within your power BY i'm
proVement l mean that you should Gull
tiVate yourself by reading. etc, SO
to make yourself intelligently conpan-
ionaa1le and entertaining to your pa
tents. You should, above all. perfect
yourself in reading aloud. / would
emphasize this accomplishment be-
cause by il you can give great pleas
ure and the soothing Influence OF such
reading is enormous. providing it is
we'll done. Don't read too fast or too
loud and cultivate IL pleasing voice
and distinct utterance and. above all,
read UNDERSTANDINGS. | would even
strongly advise taking lessons in this
ues irable accom- plishment. for ii is a
nlcst essential one in the sick room
IN only accompIishes its object If so
snteilig entity done that the listener has