Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-26
SICK ROOM PSYCHOLOGY.


IF only they would send us nurses
who knew how to get at u.s." ex-
claimed a woman of the Mission dis.
trict in San Francisco.
Thereupon Miss Higgins sat down
and wrote a book. She called it ''The
Psychology Of Nursing" In 1t she
explains why people have such queer
ways and say such queer things
Sickness makes some people
broad, charitable. and unselfish. II
makes the majority selfish, narrow
and self-centered
Miss Higgins tells why certain
types Of people react mentally and
emotionally in certain ways.
With the understanding Of the
conduct of the sick, the well should
be able to meet situations and adapt
surroundings to the best advantage.
The nurse who sits beside the sick
bed can discharge her duties a good
deal better If she understands the
underlying reasons for conduct.
1t may be worth good deal to
the patient to know that his nurse
is on to him; that she is a practical
psychologist, able to size him up for
just what he is. to understand thor
oughly how to value his complaints;
that her estimate Of him Is scientific
as we'll as detached.
Miss Higgins has group Of girls
from different sections of the coun-
try, differently educated and differ
emily brought up. enter training
school at the same time. They see
patients differently and estimate
them differently, of course, because
they themselves are different. This
way of doing things makes an OPEN
ing for the study by the nurse of her
own psychology, and this opportuni-
ty is not neglected.
I was interested in some state
ments of the different ways the nurse
viewed things and estimated her
patients symptoms when she, the
nurse, was menstruating. The type
OF mind of the nurse affects her type
Of reaction to menstruation.
And from this book I turned to
Michael Davis Immigrant Health
and the Community" and heard
again the cry Of the Mission district
woman: 'If only they would send
us nurses who knew how to get at
U.S."
Only the cry of the immigrant Is
for doctors, hospitals, dispensaries,
and lot Of other institutions and in
dividuals, as we'll as nurses. who
know how to get at US"
Davis has done a fine piece OF
reportorial work. When we read OF
the immigrants hunger for food to
which he is accustomed. for words
whose meaning he knows, for un-
derstanding, if not sympathy, we can
understand why his death rate and
sickness rate are higher than that
OF people born in this country.
Then perhaps, we find the answer.
the only effective answer, to Michael
Davis broadening of the exclamation
OF the Mission district woman in a
third book, Miss Pope's Textbook
Of Simple Nursing Procedure for
High Schools"
Much Of the visiting service to i'm
migrants, and to natives as well, and
much of the nursing Of all sorts, Is
not such as to determine the skilled
service which the trained nurse OF
today can render. 1t Is q waste OF
her time to keep her at such work.
That which can be taught through
the public schools gets at the people
through their children.
Continue Using Glasses.
B. writes: II am a boy between
the ages of is and II years. I have
worn glasses for the last five years
on account Of nearsightedness. How
can I cure my sight to normalcy?
I do not wish to wear glasses any
more, but il must to be cured will
wear them"
Nothing you can do will material
~ change your eyes. Continue wear
ing properly fitted glasses. If you
are nearsighted the tendency will be
for your eyes to become more nor
NAL as you grow older, and in time
you may be able to see well without
glasses. Age may cure you, though
you cannot cure yourself.
Get Detailed Advice.
G. D. S. writes: will you kindly
outline a rule or course of diet for a
diabetic patient?"
REPLY.
Diabetes should not eat any food
containing sugar or bread or any
food In making which any starch
containing -four is used, or any
cereal. This is merely suggestion.
To be successful in living long and
useful life you must have n plan OF
living which you must carry out in
great detail Such plan cannot be
laid down in a brief letter. Have a
physician examine you and instruct
you in how to live. Report to him
periodically. To aid you in follow
ing directions get one OF the small
books for the laity on diabetes There
are several trustworthy books OF this
character.
Cause OF Legs Swelling.
Mrs. J. l.. w. writes: 81. What Is
the cause OF the legs swelling during
the latter part of pregnancy?
"2. Would just trace Of sugar In
the urine cause this? I am dieting
for the sugar.
"3. What should I do to prevent
?" v
REPLY.
/. Among the causes are Brights
disease and pressure on the large
blood vessels in the pelvis.
2. No.
3. For swelling due to pressure
keep off your feet. For swelling due
to Bright's, diet.
To Save the Game Birds.
The country is large enough to be
able to afford grapts of safe quarters
in perpetuity for the wild fowl that
are born to an unequal contest In
which the shotgun always WINS
New York World.
Qualification for Postmasters.
Examinations to fill numerous
misunderstanding be ng scheduled
for next month, candidates will be
busy trying out their ability to read
postal cards at sight.-Pittsburgh
Gazette Times.
No Longer "Sight Unseen"
Anyway, no young fellow Of today
can hold out at some future time
that he got his bride sight unseen"
Marion Star.