Nursing The Sick
Markham Economist & Sun
Jan 30, 1919 Vol 64 No 10
Nursing The Sick
The time must come in the life of nearly every woman, when unless she is willing to shirk the most sacred of duties, she will be called upon to minister to the sick and suffering, and when those whom she loves will look to her for care and comfort.
One of the first qualifications for the position of nurse is a willingness to yield absolute obedience to the physicians in charge, and to use painstaking accuracy in carrying out his directions. The patient's faith in the doctor should also be encouraged as long as that physician has charge of the case, since it has a distinct value in furthering the recovery of the patient.
A tranquil mind being of the: utmost importance to the patient, everything must seem to be moving smoothly and easily, no matter what difficulties the nurse may have to encounter. The invalid should not be showed to feel any responsibility whatever about his own case
I know you will say—"Why, everybody knows those things." But it is the little things that count in a sickroom, and though everybody knows, these simple precautions are very often neglected. Too much stress cannot be put upon the appearance of the sick-room. It must be as cheerful and attractive as possible, that the eyes of the patient may rest with pleasure upon his surroundings. The nurse herself must contribute to the agreeable environment. Her dress must. be
simple and tasted,
but above all,
scrupulously neat.
No food must be in sight- even medicine bottles should not be
obtrusively evident.
Stillness has the power to soothe, and aids nature's healing process. So all grating and disturbing noises must be banished from the sick-room. The putting of coal on the fire is often accompanied by nerve-racking noises. It may be brought to the room wrapped in newspaper, and laid noiselessly on the fire, paper and all.
As fresh air is said to be the best tonic, the sick-roan should be well ventilated. An open fire is a fine means of ventilation. A thermometer should be frequently. used in a sick-room.
A window may be opened at the top on a sunny day no matter how ill the patient may be, if in the opening a wooden frame covered with flannel is fitted. An umbrella covered with a shawl makes a good screen when the windows are open, the patient sheltered by it as a tent. A room a little shaded is more restful to a patient, but a little sunshine in the room makes it more cheerful.
The one in charge of a sick person should not allow visitors to stay long, even though the physician has given permission to receive callers. Neither should the nurses talk too much herself. Often the patient is fatigued in this way. Some otherwise good nurses fail in this particular. They do not use talk and when to keep silent. Unless discretion about when to the
