Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-21

states an unwarranted expenditure of
time and effort in the way of service?
Never has the writer known of hos
pital plans being submitted to the stu
dent nursing body for suggestion and dis
cussion. Yet it is almost certain that
such procedure would draw forth many
excellent suggestions.
IF a superintendent Of nurses were
consulted in the matter of a nurses home.
is it not probable that night nurses would
be provided with soundproof rooms, To-
Gated in section of the building fur
thest removed from dining rooms, lecture
room, baths, ETC.?
1.-The doctors always have adequate
dressing rooms, lockers. shower baths,
ETC., in an operating pavilion, while a SIM
liar provision is seldom if ever made for
nurses. If the chief operating room nurse
were asked for suggestions in the plan
ming of an operating pavilion. is 1t not
probable that she would ask that these
things be provided for her staff as well
as for the doctors? Would not her sup
ply room be much more convenient and
accessible than the usual last space to be
utilized, which Is labeled supplies and
then left to it's sad and unsatisfactory
fate?
The foregoing errors and many SINH
lar ones are actually found in the plans
of some of our best hospitals. They are
not necessary, and it is believed that
friendly cooperation between architects
and heads of hospitals and heads of the
various departments of the hospitals
would see fewer and fewer committed.
Such cooperation would undoubtedly de-
velop a most wholesome esprit de corps
among hospital trustees officials and EN-
ployes. All would then be working for
the completion Of an institution both
beautiful and serviceable, intelligent in
detail and adapted in it's every require
ment to the great purpose of efficiently
caring for the worlds afflicted
Does 1t seem worth the experiment ?"
Miss McCalmont thinks that public in
terest is being turned more and more to
the Improvement of hospitals.
-
We'll known accountants and systema-
Tiers are rapidly focusing in our direc-
ton, and it is well that this is So" she
said. Our hospital management has
been VIGOROUSLY unbusnessike and I'M
scientific for many, many years. And
while today more and ADLER minds are
earnestly endeavoring to make such in
situations truly efficient and businesslike,
there is ever a boulder looming up before
US that will continue to block our pro-
gress unless we learn how to get around
1t. Thus far, 1t has stopped many Of us
entirely.
This obstacle is no other than the
personal comfort of the patient When
our theories of efficiency conflict with
Should either? Can We not make 1t
landmark. so to speak, and set around
it by the pathway of the human equa-
ton? While some ignore it entirely and
others use it as an excuse for much that
Is lax and loose in the daily administra-
ton, still it seems possible to make it a
basic consideration in all that concerns
hospital construction and management
without interfering seriously with uti-
mate efficiency and economy.
Hospitals are intended for the sick
the sick in mind and body The reason
for their existence is to bring these sick
ones back to condition of health in the
shortest possible time. This Is the APP
pealing argument by which we seek state
appropriations. private endowments and
individual donations. We virtually guar
antee that the money thus solicited is to
be conscientiously expended for this pur
pose. In some instances it is; in some 1t
is not. But, disregarding the extraordi-
nary discrepancies in the per capita
costs Of our institutions, we have one
problem in common. one which is encoun-
tered in every institution. and one con-
corning which there is much public dis
content.
This is the personal comfort of the
patient. The conditions which signify
comfort to the we'll are acutely intensi-
fled in the minds of the sick. These con-
ditions are rest and quiet, good food,
and good air, cleanliness. freedom from
physical discomfort. as well as freedom
from worry and irritation. Should not
our hospitals guarantee these simple
requisites to the patient? Do they?
Consider the items rest and quiet.