The doctor should be called at the same time as the nurse. This should be ascertained when call is taken over telephone.
If the nurse arrives first, she should judge from the progress of labor whether an urgent call should be sent for the doctor and how much time she will have to spend in preparation for the delivery. Unless directed otherwise by doctor, the nurse should proceed as follows:
Have a supply of boiled water and pour some in covered vessel to cool.
Take necessary articles from bag, wash hands, put on gown.
Prepare patient by giving enema, sponge bath, braiding the hair, putting on clean white stockings and a gown which can be rolled up around waist.
Make bed with tight sheet, oilcloth and draw sheet, protect with pads made of many thicknesses of newspaper, covered with old muslin.
Protect floor with newspapers, and place basin for placenta. On bedside table, place alcohol, green soap, glass of boric acid solution, silver nitrate, basin containing scissors, clamps, catheter, medicine dropper, cotton gauze, cord tape and dressing, perineal pads, hypodermic, thermometer. Basin of lysol within reach. Prepare a place for baby by covering pillow with blanket and placing hot water bottle. Have olive oil (warmed). Get baby clothes, also gown and binder for mother.
Scrub hands and cleanse patient locally with green soap and water and put on sterile pad.
Assist doctor in any way possible during delivery.
Ask doctor whether he wishes to instill silver nitrate into baby’s eyes. This should be followed by normal salt solution and boric acid.