The Washington times., 1918-10-03
Nurses
Needed
By Loretto G. Lynch.

- NCE it was perhaps cheaper,
in the end. 70 call in a train
of the household became i'll. but
with the extraordinary demand Tor
nurses overseas no one should de-
mand the services of these much-
needed women except in cases OF
very serious illness
And vet, il the population mere
at home is not properly cared for
during illness, there is danger OF
ours being a rather empty victory.
In this national emergency every
woman in America should under
stand something about nursing and
the greater her knowledge the
more valuable will she be to her
own family and the community In
general.
What to do in cases of illness,
except in very simple trouble and
in cases OF emergency, is for the
doctor to decide. How to do for
the patient is the home nurses
problem.
When sickness comes to the home
the most comfortable room in the
house should be chosen for the sick
room. It should be stripped of all
unnecessary furnishings and adorn-
ment. 1t is well to scrub the floor
and walls with soapy hot water TO
which a good disinfectant has been
added, il this is possible.
A well-made bed is a great source
OF comfort to any SUFFERER ana IL
YOU don't know how to make bed,
well. don't be ashamed of your lack
of knowledge. Ask some one who
knows to show you how.
Provide yourself with a couple OF
washable cotton gowrs and several
aprons. A cap to confine the hair
also adds 10 the neatness Of most
anyone's'appearanc
Learn to wash your hands a
quick rinse is not the nurses way
OF cleaning her hands Whenever
your hands must come in direct
contact with the patient, with a
nail brush and bichloride soap or
any other surgeons soap, scrub
your hands and finger nails for ten
or fifteen minutes. using lots OF hot
water.
TRY to comprehend the value OF
regularity in any treatment Write
down the doctors orders as to time
for nourishment and time for medi-
cine. Avoid n lineup of medicine
bottles and other sick equipment
A tiny screen around these VIII do
much to help keep the patient from
being constantly reminded OF his
predicament.
No household Is complete with
out a sick room Thermometer. In
every Illness it seems essential. BY
it's intelligent use the home nurse
will be able to decide whether
chnd has a fever and requires med
icaI attention. or is just overheated'
and, perhaps. a bit sunburned.
Every physician, of course. VIII
give the necessary directions. II
something you observe puzzles you
lot it down. so that you will sure
ly remember to take IT up with. the
physician when he comes.
Remember that the cheapest. most
convenient method of sterilization
is boiling. Boiling for twenty min
utes will usually effect steriliza-
ton. Dishes. towels. bed linen.
handkerchiefs or any other thing
that comes in contact with the
patient is safer for having been
boiled.
Rich or poor. every. woman can
learn how to prepare an attractive
sick room tray. \ small tray as
well as few dainty. attractive
pieces OF china can be secured at
any 1O-cent store. 4 small drink
ing glass, a tiny salt and pepper, a
tiny pitcher and sugar bowl. all
add to the attractiveness OF the
tray.
II the physician tells you to give
the patient Cruel or mush or cod
died egg. and you do not know how
to prepare these dishes. be sure and
tell him. He may tell you how or
suggest a little book on invalid
cookery that would help.
Go about your work in a kindly,
thoughtful way. learning little
more each day. You will be sur
prised how you will come to like
nursing. and before very long you
will want to join one of the free
classes in nursing which are
springing UP everywhere overnight