Each floor and ward will require a scullery. It is far better for each ward to contain its own appointments—and all the other stores to be together, apart. On the second floor might be the Ward-Master’s room; vice the Nurse’s room.
12. Nurses’ Sleeping Quarters.
12. Nurses’ quarters, if we are driven to their not sleeping near their wards, should be adjoining the Matron’s two rooms, and separate water-closet, in a part of the Hospital as central as can be managed without trespassing on our betters. I would simplify these quarters as much as possible—either a series of very small rooms, or one great space partitioned off each into a little cell, with a window, bed, washing table, chest of drawers, and a very small wardrobe, with space to hang up three or four gowns, deep enough for another row for shawl, &c., at top a shelf for bonnet and caps, at bottom a deep drawer for boots and shoes. These things will be a convenient riddance to the chest of drawers, and comfort to the women. In each cell very strong hooks to hang up and air a little gowns taken off at night, and one or two chairs. The nurses must wash their hands, &c., in the rooms off their wards, and I think it must be understood as a rule that they leave their quarters in the morning and return to them at night. Optional carpet.
Each cell to be numbered either with number or with name of Pavilion. Opposite this space a small lumber room, wherein each nurse may deposit her box, thereby hindering dissemination of bugs. Opposite also a running open cupboard, with partitions numbered or named as rooms, containing each Nurse’s broom, dustpan, &c., each with a key.
Also pump, sink, water closet.
Furnishing.
When furnishing begins, it will be well worth while to see that all articles of furniture, whether for wards or Nurse’s quarters, admit of being easily swept and scrubbed underneath, and swept and dusted at top. Chests of drawers, &c., with too narrow space between bottom and ground, harbour dust, or sadly waste a few precious minutes in the most busy part of every day. As few high pieces of furniture as possible, to gather dust and be out of easy reach; as few as possible of cumbrous articles difficult to move from the wall, to sweep and dust behind, &c.
There ought to be, near the Superintendent’s quarters, one or two small rooms, where, necessity occurring, sick Nurses might be lodged. We cannot hope always to escape having sick Nurses; and there would be serious objection in a Military Hospital, where only one Nurse sleeps on each floor, to having the Nurse ill in her room for more than 2 or 3 days at the outside. Or there might be one good-sized airy room, with two or three dark washable curtains dividing it into little dormitories, so that one Nurse, whom the Superintendent must engage and watch, could attend them all. And as Her Majesty’s Nurses must have allowed them such decent comfort as can be, but no fastidiousness, I think the cubicles in one room would be best. Not to be called so, however, by any means, as it would sound Latin and “Puseyitical.” The Nurse’s ward to be locked and key kept by Superintendent, except when tenanted. I should hope three beds would answer thoroughly, as well as that the ward would be empty eleven months out of the twelve.
Considering the awkwardness of illness among Nurses, when it did occur in a Military Hospital, it would be worth while that, adjoining the little ward, there should be a little room for any one infectious case which might occur; e. g., supposing one Nurse ill in the ward with bronchitis, it would not do to put another with small-pox into the ward,—at least it would be very impolitic. The ward should have a water-closet and a little sink of its own, and a little cell, but with window and fireplace, for the attending Nurse to lie down in. When not used, once a month’s, or week’s at the most, cleaning by a charwoman would be enough. It should be always clean and ready for use. In the Civil Hospitals, few years pass without sundry Head-Nurses and Nurses dying, not a few Nurses being warded, and sundry Head-Nurses ill in their rooms. The peculiarity of Military Hospitals makes this little preparation for what is certain every now and then to occur seem desirable and economical; to hire lodgings in the neighbouring town would be in all ways a worse plan.
13. Classification of Cases.