Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-01
Nurses Club Gives Help
full Hints to the
Unframed,

demic, to supply enough nurses.
Realizing this and keenly desiring
to be- of assistance, the registrar OF
the Nurses Central Club and Regis
try, has outlined = few suggestions
for those who cannot secure
trained nurse.
In the morning, give warm
sponge bath, unless your physician
has ordered otherwise. Ask him his
wishes in this matter. In giving a
bed bath, expose the patient as little
as possible. Have windows closed
and room warm. The back will be
very tired so, in bathing this part
OF the body, use long strokes and
follow with q rub of alcohol or tai
cum powder. Change the bed, or,
if short of linen, smooth it out well.
In case of shortage of linen, it is
we'll to keep two sets of sheets and
gowns, for day and night, airing
them between times. If the patient
is woman braid her haid in two
braids, she will not need to lift her
head from the pillow for this. A
man patient is also refreshed by
having his hair combed. Have pa
tient brush his teeth night and
morning, or, if too weak for this,
rinse his mouth frequently with salt
water or a mouth wash suggested
by your doctor. There are various
ways of changing your patients po-
sition to rest him. When lying
on the back, place pillow, or a
blanket rolled and slipped into a
pillow case, under the knees. Under
the small of the back, which is a
particularly "achy" spot, place
small pillow, or improvise one by
folding large bath towel several
times. For a change. have the pa
tient lie on his side, with a pillow
bracing his back near the hips and
another between the knees. When
the doctor says your patient may
sit up in bed you can improvise
very good back rest by taking a
straight back chair, and placing it
on its back behind the patient. When
YOU have given the patient his
medicine, drink of water, diet, ETC.,
draw the shades and let him rest.
At night again sponge the patients
face, hands, rub his back, shake his
pillows and make him comfortable
for the night. Then shade the
light.
Do not work too constantly over
your patient, and tire him; anticipate
his wants and think for him as far
as possible. Give patient plenty OF
fresh air, but avoid drafts; improvise:
a screen Of sheets, or blanket, II
necessary. Avoid chilling after per-
spring. Do not permit patient to
20 70 the bathroom without slippers
and bath robe. If the patient is very
weak give nourishment through a
drinking tube If the feet are cold
apply a hot water bag, not too hot,
and wrapped in towel. Give plen-
ty Of water to drink, unless other
wise ordered by the doctor. Ask
your doctor about character and fre-
uuency of diet. Liquid diet may be
pleasantly varied; milk, eggnogs.
matted, iced or hot; orange or lem
onade, ice cream, cocoa, egg lemon
ade, or egg beaten in grape juice or
orange. juice; broths, gelatine, etc.
Be sure that you are giving what
YOUR physician wishes given.
For sputum, make newspaper
cones, several thicknesses; change
often and burn. Paper napkins
make good handkerchiefs, TOR they
can be burned. A large paper bag
or a newspaper cone may be pinned
to the side OF the bed and the paper
napkins deposited therein.
Wash your hands often with soap
and water and keep a basin OF anti
septic solution in which to frequent
lv din YOUR hands. Do not permit
patient to cough into your face; turn
your head and ask him to turn his,
if possible. .,.
hs far as possible let one mem
ber Of the family only do the nurs-
ing, thus avoiding confusion in car
ryinp out orders. Keep a simple
written record of diet taken, medi..
cines, frequency and character OF
excretions from bowels and kidneys.
etc. Be sure that you understand
the DOCTORS orders and to that end
write them out as he gives them. OF
ask him to write them. Your doc.
tor is the captain of the ship; follow
his directions as carefully as posi-
Bile.
At night put on loose clothes and
slippers and relax as you can. II
possible to lie down, do so, but
never on your patients bed. Keef
your head, act deliberately and dc
the best you can.
nl. C~eolr polioE C0rnc