NURSING CHRONIC BRONCHITIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 4 (Supplement)

NURSING CHRONIC BRONCHITIS.

The cough is characterised by being rough and ringing to the ears; the patient continues coughing till eventually he finds relief in expectoration. The expectoration is, as a rule, profuse, mucopurulent and frothy in character. For this reason a thoughtful nurse will always have two expectoration mugs beside her l'atient ready for use, otherwise she may 'nave to keep him waiting while she empties, scalds and places disinfectant i* the mug; in the meantime he may be coughing violently, spluttering and trying to restrain the sputum, the getting rid of which is the only hope of relief ; a handkerchief or lag should also always be -ready at his hand. These may teem very small and obvious matter.-, hut it. is forethought and attention to detail in a nurse which means so much to the comtort of the patient. Also, when making the patient's bed or giving a blanket bath the nurse should be careful to guard against flicking the bed-clothes or replacing them hurriedly or letting him feel in f.ny way fussed or flurried. Often an r.ttack of distressed coughing is brought on owing to the thoughtlessness of the nurse in this respect. Inhalations of eucalyptus and benzoin are very soothing r.nJ help to soften the bronchial secre tions. In preparing an inhalation, if a regulation inhaler is not at hand, a bowl or large jue oan be used. The vessel should be warmed and filled to three-

< quarters of its capacity with boiling : water. To this should be added either a few drops of eucalyptus to the pint ol water, or a dram to the pint of tincture of benzoin. The patient is instructed to inhale the steam : it is advisable, when possible, to prop him up in a sitting position with pillow, and make him as comf< rtable as possible. The inhaler should be placed in front of him. and a bath towel or small light blanket placed ovei his head, including the inhaler; the bed clothes should he protected. The patient should not be left, as in moving the boiling water may be tipped, causing • r.ainful scalds. The patient's tempera- ; tuie in these cases is little, if anJythin"-. • to go by. the most important points I the pulse and respiration. It is curious ■ how little importance, especially in the : I early stages of her training, a 'nurse at- i ; todies to a patient's pulse. Quite high i ] temperatures are reported without any j . mention of pulse and respiration. A ; j great strain is put upon the heart in . chronic bronchitis, and a nurse should J I realise that practically her only source jf ' knowledge of the heart's action is gained I ; from her observation of the pulse and re- ! spirati-Vi. 'the diet should be light, the , bowels carefully regulated, and the clotn j iiug preferably flamie'