Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-14


In comparing the annual reports of
the district nursing department for
the years 1912-1913, | was surprised
to find that the nurses had treated
more patients in 1913 than in 1912,
namely 20,915 cases as against 1000
for the previous year The record
also discloses that 1S2,656 treatments
were administered
These are the results in spite of the
fact that in the work of the year
just passed, the ideal has been, not
more patients, but more efficient SER
vice. Not to be content with the
dressing and bandaging of their
wounds, and looking after their small
ailments, but to extend further and
teach them how to care for them
selves and their sick. In this way, in
the event of their moving where there
are no district nurses they will be
able to do many of the small things
that are such comfort to the sick,
such as giving bed bath, and chang
ing the bed linen without moving the
patient out of bed They are also
taught to prepare suitable food for a
sick person.
Many of our patients are most will
ing to learn, and when once shown
the correct way take much pride in
showing their friends and neighbors.
During the past year, our records
show that the nurses have paid 5029
district calls. Those are calls where
actual nursing care has been render
ed, either giving treatment ordered by
the attending physician, or giving a
bed bath, preparing suitable nourish-
ment, and instructing the relatives or
friends in the care of the sick per-
son.
The work being done in the city
schools is the part would enlarge
upon, were possessed of more elo-
Quence. To me, 1t is the part most
worth while. Not only do we attend
to the health of the children but we
have a splendid opportunity of in
strueting both children and parents
as to the need of cleanliness, not only
of their bodies, particularly their
hands,-but also of their homes and
yards. Reaching the parents in this
way, they accept suggestions and in
structions from us that they never
would otherwise.
Much has been done in tubercular
work in the past year but much re-
mains to be done Not until we have
hospital accommodation for every tu- |
bercular patient who will not obey
instructions and who is menace to
the community, will We have the sit |
uation at all under control. One
case may illustrate the point. / wish
to make A woman in an advanced |
state of T. B. lived in small dark
room without even window, with
two small children. These children
slept in the same bed, and used the |
same dishes. In fact, the elder of the |
two, little girl of seven years, took |
care of her mother and prepared what
food they had to eat. This woman alb
solutely refused to go to the hospital
until Just a few weeks before she !
died. but not before she had infected !
her husband and both the children. |
We took the children into the Day
Camp and cared for them. A few
weeks ago, they were pronounced
free from T. B. and are now attend |
ing school. The father refuses all |
treatment, and at present has the
children sleep with him. There is only |
one outcome to be expected from these |
cases: The children will be reinfect- |
ed by the father. All of this might |
have been prevented if the mother
could have been compelled to go to |
the hospital.
Our dispensary work has increased
by 1000 patients in the past year.
This work has been handicapped by |
our not having a physician in at
tendance. The greatest need in the
district nursing department is a ply
stefan who will give some part of his
time TO the supervision of the nurses. !
The Pa Ola Day Camp has during