The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-01-19
HOME NURSING
Section iii.

does the very best that he can TO
diagnose the patients trouble, but he
needs some help from the one who
cares for the patient between the
calls. 1t is quite necessary then
that the home nurse should keep an
accurate chart each day of certain
conditions. II notes are jottcd down
on loose scraps Of paper, there Is
grave danger that they may be vt,
altogether, or be so hopelessly mixed
that the doctor L. unable - tel When
they were taken.
The record sheet for each day
should be dated at the top, then 1t
should contain notation Of tempcra-
ture, pulse respiration, amount OF
sleep, amount and kind Of food taken
and the amount and kind Of excre-
tions during the day.
Many drug store proprietors carry
the usual record blanks, bedside
notes" which are conveniently mark
ed for the usual entries.
The temperature is taken with the
clinical thermometer which should he
stcrilized in alcohol after each using.
The clinical thermometer records the
temperature and then holds that
record until il is shaken down; there
fore the mercury must bc shaken
down after each use. To settle the
mercury in a clinical thermometer
grasp the top Of the thermometer
firmly between the fingers, give the
hand quick, Jerking swing.
The temperature is registered in
from one and half 10 five minutes,
according TO the place in which IL is
taken. The usual places for taking
the temperature are; G)under the
tongue (the tongue held down and
the lips closcd); I2) under the arm. IN
the groin or in some fold Of the body;
and (3) in the rcctum Gin cases of
small children or delirious patients)
In taking the temperature in the
mouth one mnst be sure that no
fluids have been taken for at least
fifteen minutes before the thermome.
ter is inserted in the mouth.
The temperature taken under the
arm (rccordcd in from five % ter
minutes) is onc-half degree lower
than that Of the mouth; while
rectal temperature is one-half degree
higher than mouth temperature. The
place Of taking the temperature
should be noted when the record J.
placed on Tn record blank.
The normal temperature is 9s.4 F
gG.5 10 9s is subnormal; 96.5 indicates
|. collapse; 99.5 To 100, slight fever; an'
, moderate fever is indicated by lOO.'
, 10 1907 in the morning and lO2 e
IO3 in the evening; high fever l02 e
lOi in the morning and l0i 10 lO5 II
: the evening: lO5 90 10 means intens'
fever.
II is a good plan 10 take the tenn
pcrature at regular times during tn,
, day: eight o'clock in the morning
: four in the afternoon, and again a
eight at night. This allows the doc
tor to see the changes during tn
, entire day. II is very importan
I that temperature reports should b
! accurate. II a temperature above
c lO5 continu long death will be tn
/, result. In some diseases, as pneu
monia, fever ends suddenly and tn
nurse should note this, see that tn
patient is stimulated with heat o
medicine 20 prevent heart failure.
4. The pulse indicates the rapidit
! Of the heart beat. and tells grea
deal "a the doctor or nurse. The in
experienced person can tell only b
: the rapidity or slowness and tn
strength or weakness Of the beat
4 individuals vary great deal i
0 pulse rate, but the normal beat in
/ man is 60 TO 20 beats per minute; /
s a woman, from 65 to so beats; in
child, from 90 TO 100 beats.
The pulse is taken by placing tn
finger ends (never the thumb alon
! the course Of an artery near tn
body, and counting the beats pc
minute. The usual place is on tn
=" inside Of the wrist, at the thumb sid
g of the wrist IL can be taken at eitf
> or side Of the throat, on the artery
4 front Of the ear, or on the inner sid
Of the ankle.
= The pulse rate varies with actio
and according 10 age-the old hay
much slower pulse than the younl
A A SUDDEN movement Of the pater
will cause a quickening Of the pulls
Excitement, going up steps, or goin
fast on the level will increase N
pulse rate. One should also motto
= whether the pulse is regular OF i
regular in force and frequenc!
whpthpr the artery is cOmDresSib