The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-06
THE VALUE OF THE VISITS
FROM THE VISITING NURSE

and restriction OF disease? Does she
realize that potentially indeed, but
none the less actually the health, and
perhaps the lives OF many are in the
hollow of her hand?
1T may be that say 1t with shame
lit may be that case OF tuberculosis,
typhoid or scarlet fever or diphtheria,
the attending physician will not give
minute details as to the modes OF dis
infection and method Of quarantine,
shall the nurse then hesitate TO carry
out preventative measure because not
SO instructed? Indeed, no, proper pre-
tentative measures should be institut-
led as matter of course without in
struction; even without question. The
physician, If delinquent, will at once
see his fault and will be grateful for
supplementary action of the nurse. Ii
will raise her in his estimation and
will show him that she is not one who
simply carries out orders, but an in
/ dividuality, aiding him in all ways to-
ward the resumption and preservation
of health. A nurse who discards thor
ough and never relaxing disinfection
in tuberculosis and typhoid fever, or
who sights absolute quarantine in
| scarlet fever and diphtheria, is to my
mind committing a far greater offensc
| than the one who neglects to give q
dose Of medicine at the appointed hour
or fails to chart temperature and
pulse observation.
Prevention is worth pounds and
pounds of cures, and in many ways a
sin of omission Is greater than sin
of commission In the broadcast and !
finest sense OF the word the duty Of |
the trained nurse does not end when |
her patient is made comfortable, all |
orders carried out, all mandates exc
Cuted. She comes much as the go-be- |
tween, separating the laity from the
physician. The former very ignor-
ant OF the simple laws of health feels /
far removed in all matters not immeul- !
lately concerned with the illness OF the |
patient, from the latter with whom !
the preservation and restoration of |
health is life work.
THE trained nurse is in no sense /
physician, neither is she a layman she .
bridges the gap. Her patient is the
immediate preoccupation, but behind,
before and beyond is her duty to hui i
mainly, 1.-The law of higher life is full /
filled only by love" Her duty to all
the power to protect the innocent. TO
spread knowledge among the ignorant, !
to pave the way for the betterment /
and maintenance of health. If this is !
true with reference to nursing in gen
eral it is especially so with refer !
ence to visiting nursing. The visiting i
nurse teaches the poor to make the |
most of their convenience in sickness !
and shows them how to give the in
valid proper attention without infring- |
ing upon the rights of other members |
of the family; teaches people to over
come the prejudices of sanatorium and |
hospital treatment. when such would |
lie manifestly the best.
mo class of patients are helped |
more, to my mind, by the visiting |
nurse, than patients Ill with tubercu-
losis. A visiting nurse becomes ac-
quainted with the patient and enables |
her to plan for the handling Of the
case in the home. The patients are
weighed, temperature, pulse and re-
spiration are taken and recorded. The
| case is examined by a doctor, treat
ment is outlined in most cases in the
presence of the nurse so that the pa
| tient knows the nurse is familiar with
/
will report any neglect Of them.
THE object of a home visit is to
make certain that the patient under
stood and is following out instructions,
to gain information to conditions in
the home that will help in working
out treatment at home or in the re-
| moval of the patient to the hospital
or sanatorium. Home visitation of
tuberculosis patient has been fol-
lowed by the urging of other members
| of the family for physical examina-
ton, the education of family as to
the nature Of tuberculosis. its cause,
the way it spreads, and the means of
| prevention and cure of tuberculosis is
| being effected by routine visiting.
We teach them how to clothe their
bodies, no VITO battle, the care of the
skin; keep records of the temperature,