The careful hospital housekeeper will see to it that the person in charge of the main entrance knows his business and is reliable and courteous. He need not know all the business of the institution, but he should know enough to answer questions properly and when to be silent. If no special uniform is provided, he should be neatly and quietly attired. Parcels, telegrams, messages, are constantly being delivered for the inmates, and he should be responsible for them until they are delivered to the nurse in charge. Letters should be placed in a locked box, the key to be held by some reliable person who will see to their distribution. Mail for the patients should not be given to the inmates direct, but to the nurse in charge, and some nurse should always be in charge. Carelessness at this point may result in an important letter or message not being delivered, or delivered at a time when it is specially important that the patient’s mind be free from disturbance or intrusion of any kind. Complaints are frequently made, of large hospitals especially, that boxes of flowers sent to patients have been thrown carelessly into a parcel room, and not delivered at all, or delivered after their beauty and fragrance had gone. If the person at the door is careless about matters of that kind, he will be just as likely to be careless about more serious things. A temporary substitute at the door should always be arranged for when the porter is obliged to be absent, even for a few minutes.
The Private Rooms
In all apartments intended for the use of patients some degree of uniformity should be observed in the furnishings, though this may easily be carried to extremes. These rooms vary in size and price, but the essentials for all are the same. The chief thought should be to have the furnishings suitable, sensible and restful. Dainty white enameled furniture for hospital rooms is rapidly replacing that of darker hue and adds greatly to the attractiveness of the hospital. For the average room a combination dresser and washstand is preferable to cumbering the room with two separate pieces of furniture. These have the essential features of the dresser, in that they provide a mirror and drawers, and of the washstand by having a towel rack and cupboard. In any case, small dressers are preferable to large ones. Every private room should have its own wash bowl and pitcher, soap dish, mug, receptacle for toilet brush, water bottle and drinking glass. The bed should be placed so that the nurse can have access to it on three sides. The woven-wire springs should be warranted not to sag in the middle.
Combination Dresser and Washstand
Blankets, on account of the frequent washings, should not be all wool, nor too heavy. For warmth it is better to depend on light blankets than on any form of “comforter.”
Rugs may be as bright and handsome as the hospital can purchase. The cheap wool rugs that are everywhere displayed for sale are a poor investment. The most satisfactory rugs are those made to order of tapestry Brussels, or when it can be afforded, the more expensive grade of Brussels or velvet. For small rooms three widths are usually sufficient and these made without border are not an expensive rug. For larger rooms a border is preferable, but in any case such rugs are economical and serviceable.
Long lace curtains should have no place in a hospital. They are always getting in the way and being torn, always collecting dust and always an obstacle to the view and to ventilation. At best they are a nuisance, an unnecessary expense and serve no useful purpose. Soft, plain white sash curtains are the only suitable curtains for the hospital window. Provision should be made for looping them back if the patient desires it, and most patients have a longing desire to see out of doors.
A comfortable, roomy rocker, with arms and without any “squeaks,” is indispensable in the private room.
Hospital Couches