CHAPTER IV.
The Linen Room
The linen room is one of the very important parts of the institution. Demands will be made on it almost every hour, and, if the hospital is to do proper work, it must be equal to the demands. As well expect a carpenter to construct a building without tools as expect nurses to do conscientious work without a sufficient supply of bed and body linen to keep their patients in proper condition. Lack of knowledge on the part of the managers as to the amount of supplies necessary, rather than a lack of money, is accountable for the shortage of linen in many hospitals. An important part of the housekeeper’s duties is to know what supplies are on hand, and keep the board informed as to the needs. Time, and tact, and perseverance in educating them as to what is absolutely necessary for proper work, will do much to correct such defects in hospital management. It is difficult for the laity, who are perhaps accustomed to having bedding changed in their homes but once a week, and then sometimes allowing for but one clean sheet for each bed, to appreciate that a constant changing of beds goes on in a hospital, both day and night, and that economy is out of the question. A hospital can really afford to be extravagant in the matter of linen. That is one point, and perhaps the only one, in which lavish expenditure will really redound to the good of the hospital. Better cut down expense in a dozen other ways than to give rise to the criticism that the hospital has not sufficient linen to keep its patients and its beds in proper condition. Cleanliness may be next to godliness in most circumstances, but no hospital can afford to let cleanliness take second rank with any other virtue. In fact, if want of cleanliness in the care of the beds or patients be noted, very grave doubts as to the godliness of the management will surely arise, be the professions in that direction never so loud.
Bed Linen
The amount of linen required per bed will depend somewhat on the character of the work done in the hospital. Where only acute cases are handled, and emergency work is done, the supply must needs be greater, as the average number of patients entirely confined to bed will be greater. Six pairs of sheets and pillow covers for each bed is a fair amount to begin with. That number of sheets is often needed for one patient in a day, but taking the average patient in the average ward, that amount will usually be sufficient, even to provide for the extra demand in special cases. A half-dozen draw sheets for each bed in the ward are also necessary. Six face towels and four bath towels per bed is a fair estimate. Two spreads for each bed and two pairs of blankets will be sufficient for the ordinary ward, but a few extra blankets should be provided for each ward, for the use of patients who require extra heat. This estimate is based on the supposition that linen sent to the laundry Monday morning will be returned at the latest by Wednesday morning following. Every well equipped hospital has its supply of gowns for the use of any patient who needs them or cares to use them. They are best made to order of firm bleached muslin, without trimming of any kind. For ease in management they should be open all the way and should fasten in the back. Tape fastenings will be found most satisfactory, as buttons are constantly torn off in the mangle.
The Room
The linen room should be really a room—not a closet. Special cupboards or closets for each ward or department will be needed, but the general linen room has special needs that do not apply to the ward closets. Plenty of light is a necessity. A work-table, a sewing machine, and a gas stove on which an iron may be heated, should be in it, besides the shelves and cupboards needed for the hospital linen supply. To this room new linen should be sent to be marked.
Marking Linen
It will be found that a uniform system of marking linen will save time in sorting. Sheets may be marked on the wrong side at the corner of the top end, pillow covers an inch above the hem close to the seam, towels in the corner of one end just above the hem, table-napkins and tray cloths diagonally across the corner. Blankets and spreads may be marked by a tape sewn diagonally across the corner.