Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-09

heavy. stiff and quickly cooled. A hot
water bag should be about half filled with
water which has just reached the boiling
point. The nurse should hold the bag in
a thick towel and slowly press out the
steam. Then, with one hand clutched
about the upper empty part OF the bag,
she should screw in the stopper with the
other. A bag filled in this way holds its
heat for hours, and since there is plenty
of room for any steam that may form it
cannot possibly burst.
1t is not a difficult matter to keep the
sickroom as clean as 1t should be il the
room is properly arranged. All drapery
and unnecessary furniture should be re-
moved. II possible the floor should be
uncarpeted and partly covered with rugs.
Every day the rugs should be brushed
out of doors and the floor should be
cleaned with q broom over which Is tied
a cloth wrung from water and some disin-
fectant recommended by the physician.
Furniture and woodwork should be wiped
with cloth dampened In water mixed
with disinfectant. If the floor is car
peted the carpet should be brushed daily
with a broom covered with a damp cloth.
The nurse should keep all medicines.
bandages and other sickroom accessories
out Of the patients sight, either In an
other room or else neatly arranged on
q table behind a screen.
Much care should be taken in the
handling of medicine. A note should be
made in the doctors presence of the
amount and frequency of the dose to be
given to the patient. and record should
be kept on a chart or sheet or paper
whenever the medicine is given. Too
much care cannot be taken where medi-
cines are concerned. Even trained
nurses of high standing have made
dreadful mistakes in regard to giving
medicine. Always look twice at the label
tors directions before measuring the
medicine. and look again before giving
the dose to the patient. II this rule Is in
variably followed a mistake is impos-
sible.
u
The patients bed should be literally
supplied with clean linen, the blankets or
wash quilts should be spotless and the
bed should be covered with lightweight
washable white spread. At least twice
a day, when the patient is in bed all the
time, the pillows should be shaken and
aired. the bottom sheet pulled taul and
firmly tucked in on all sides. and the top
sheet and other coverings removed from
the bed. shaken out and replaced.
The successful trained nurse tries to
keep the patient in comfortable state
rather than make him comfortable after
he has become uncomfortable. She an
ticipates. If possible, all his wishes, and
the home nurse should endeavor to dc
this For instance, she should keep the
light out of the patients eyes and yet
sufficiently bright to make reading OF
looking about possible without strain.
She should battle the eyes when they
are tired with very hot water. She should
recognize the individuality of the patient
by observing such courtesies as knocking
as she enters the room and consulting
the patients wishes when this can BE-
done safely concerning food and cover
ing, but she should never ask such ques-
tons as. do you think you'll feel as
badly tonight as You did last nfght?' or,
DO you suppose you could manage to
eat something IL got 1t for you?"
Above all else, she should keep the pa
tfent In rested and calm state of mind
and body. by forbidding visitors to the
room. by insisting on sufficient sleep and
by preventing the room from becoming q
gathering place for the other members
OF the family. This last duty is especially