NURSES AND NURSING.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 3012, 5 August 1916, Page 1

NURSES AND NURSING.

NOTES ON ITS IMPORTANCE

Many people Avho have the 'best of intentions make Avrotched nurses. They appear to absolutely lack that intuition Avhich in a good nurse anticipates a patient's Avants. It cannot be too often reiterated that a patient's recovery depends as much on the nurse as on the doctor. The doctor can only spend a short time ivitli each patient; his province as to prescribe and direct. On the nurse falls the responsibility of carrying out those directions; and also tho equally important and more onerous duty of meeting emergencies undirected. BORN, NOT MADE. To be a good nurse it is not necessary to be hospital trained, and to proclaim knoAvledge by special uniform. Unfortunately, many of those Avho have entered the ranks of professional nurses have no natural ability fo.r the duties that devolve upon them. The Avoman avlio has gained her experience on less pretentious lines, but has the quick sympathy that guides initiative is a better nurse than these misfits. CHARACTER STUDY. A patient requires to be very closely Avatched, that ■character as Avell as disease may be understood. Some patients, for instance, like to feel that they arc being Avaited upon, that a great deal is made of their ailments, bo they great or small. Others loathe tho feeling that they are under any obligation for comforts and attention; ■their wishes are to hide all their sufferings, to bear them in silence and alone. A good nurse Avill Jmniour both, shoiving marked solicitude for the one, Avhilst for the other the comforts she contrives will be so stealthily administered that many Avill give relief Avithout being perceived. THE IDEAL ATTRIBUTES. A light tread, a gentle hand, a sweet, patient temper, and self-sacri-ficing energy aro attributes called for •in nursing. She who does this work for no other motive than money must always bo a failure. But while Aye loefk for high ideals in our nurses, let us remember that they 3 too, are human, and need equally Avith the remainder of .humanity consideration and rest.