SOME HINTS ON NURSING.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 18 September 1912, Page 2

SOME HINTS ON NURSING.

The apartments of the invalids must; be kept scrupulously clean; purity must breathe in the atmosphere. The bed must be immaculate, and the patient must be frequently bathed and rubbed, so as to keep the skin in a healthy condition. Some persons seem to think that soap and water are sure death to a sick person, while in reality there are few diseases where such is the case. We do not mean that we should plunge a desperately ill person into the bath, but when the intensity of the illness has passed, to sponge the patient every day in warm water without removing the bedclothes, thus protecting them from cold, strengthens and refreshes them. When persons a^-9 :11 a long time they naturally become tired of seeing just the same piece of bric-a-brac, in the same identical spot week in and week out, and the too familiar pictures hanging on to their nails for ever. .

Now. the nurse has it in her power to relieve, to a large extent, this horrible monotony of view by occasionally tailing the pictures down' arid replacing them with-others; -from * various parts of the house. Remove the bnc-a-brac, which becomes wearisome aftar a. time, and "put in its place vases «• sweet, bright flowers. Bring the bird in for a while if the patient is not suffering with headache, and so direct the attention to things cheerful and pleasant. Try to entertain the suffering ones; banish all thoughts of business, and let not care of any kind enter the sick room. Read some plsasant paragraph thftt is not long enough to be tiresome. When the patient is convalescing be slow to read thos? things which would tax and fatigue him. It is important. to us - all that we should be capable of. nursing at least the inmates of our own homes. The daughters, sisters, and mothers, however, should not depend upon the profession, but should 'train their selves,,- for with their education, and intelligence, they should be quick to recognise what is best to- do for rheir loved ones when they are prostrated by illness. '