HINTS FOR THE HOME NURSE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 51, 28 August 1926, Page 17

HINTS FOR THE HOME NURSE

There are times of sudden illness when it is impossible to obtain the services of a trained nurse. In such circumstances the home nurse must rise to the occasion. Her first aim should be to gain not only the Satient's but the doctor's confidence in er personal capabilities, says an experienced Eed Cross worker. A cheery manner is very important, no matter how flurried the nurse may feel inwardly with regard to her new responsibilities. It is necessary to avoid showing any signs of hesitation, though one must have care in deciding what course of action to take. Plan out your daily routine—the wash, the meals, the medicine (when ordered), the read, the sleep, etc. —and never be a second late with anything. It sounds extraordinarily hard, certainly, but punctuality is a third of the battle. The patient gets to look forward to his meals, or his evening wash—never the morning wash—or his read, and if these are five minutes late he worries, and up goes his temperature.

If you have not a very good memory, write a list of the articles required for the different events. For example:—The morning wash: Basin on table near bed; hot water—testwith elbow before use; soap; flannel or lint, not sponge; two bath towels, one to go under the patient; one face towel; starch powder in preference to boracie; tooth glass, brush, and paste; nailbrush and comb; put fresh night clothes to air by fire; air and fold up his other clothes.

It is advisable to pin the list on the screen that should shut off the waskstand. The clothes that are folded up are to be used again in the evening, as it is more refreshing and more economical to have the two changes of clothes.

It is essential for the amateur nurse to have a certain authority over her patient, and sometimes over the rest of the household. There must bo firmness on her part in order to carry out the doctor's orders in spite of heartrending pleas to the contrary. Yet tact is altogether indispensable. The "iron" female who strides about the room and says, "You must do so-and-so," with a terrible emphasis on the "must," is a fit model ofwhat a nurse should not be. And such nurses, lacking in tact and sympathy, do. exist.

Lastly, there is the question of visitors. Here the nurse mußt use great discretion. There is the bright, cheery visitor who always has something nice to say, and who keeps a natural manner and does not tiptoe into the sick-room as though the patient was on his death-bed. He is always welcome when the patient can stand visitors. Then there is the awkward, equally well-meaning type, who is inclined to bang into the bedroom and upset things. He won't take the hint to go, either. You have to tell him to go and hold the door open for him. Visitors generally overstay their time. The patient begs them not to go. They seem to be doing him so much good. Doubtless they are, just for the time. Twenty minutes or so after the visitor's departure comes the patient's reaction. One realises that he has been over-ex-cited and is "worn out." This is a frequent cause of a setback, and must be carefully guarded against.