The fault will be yours, and yours alone, if you do not treasure them in your minds, so that you may be not only trained but skilled nurses. The responsibility for the proper management of a sick-room and the patient in it is a very high and grave position, and requires the utmost faithfulness on the part of the nurse. Unless you are willing to put aside everything that may interfere with your giving yourself entirely and conscientiously to the care of your patient, do not assume the charge. But when you once receive that charge remember that you are dealing with that which disease can destroy by your negligence, and no human power can restore—a precious human life. You therefore owe to each case all that a faithful mind can suggest and the body endure; and such faithfulness has not been wanting in the former graduates of this school.
I can never forget the scene when one of our graduates, after having charge of over thirty cases of typhoid fever among some orphan children, and we had to lose one, whom she had nursed as faithfully and tenderly as its own mother could have done, how, when she had done her all and death claimed him, there were tears shed for one who had no mother to shed them. And it was due largely to her unremitting faithfulness that we were able to record but two deaths in thirty-three cases. That woman has not had an idle day to my knowledge in several years.
When any unexpected emergency arises, which to your educated eye teaches you that your patient is in extreme danger, do not alarm the friends unnecessarily; try not to show in your voice or conduct that you are demoralized and have lost courage. While doing the best you can (until the arrival of the physician, whom it was your first duty to have summoned), encourage those around you, and keep them busy if you can, as, unless they are occupied, the coming of the physician will seem to them unreasonably delayed, even though he be at hand when called. Above all, do not let every physician within reach be sent for, unless the situation is one of great urgency, as I believe many patients have been frightened to death by the demoralization of solicitous friends.
If you can show yourself capable and maintain your own composure of mind, you will be able in nearly every instance to avert a panic, and in many cases prevent disastrous results to your patient. But if you fail at times for want of proper courage, do not give up with a feeling that you are unequal to emergencies, only be the more determined not to show the white feather again.
It is a well known fact to military men, that veteran troops who have stood the brunt of the fight in many a battle, become demoralized unexpectedly and retreat, to the utter surprise of their officers. But in their next battle their courage and deeds of prowess again surprise every one. So be it with you.
In the sick-room nothing so distresses the helpless sufferer as a want of frankness on the part of the attendant. You may refuse or neglect to answer, or turn the subject if possible, but never tell what are called “white lies.” One lie always requires another to cover it, and sooner or later you will be caught. If it is not best to tell, say outright it is better for me not to answer that question; or it may be the least of two evils to answer it faithfully as patients often imagine that things are far worse than they are. I believe that we of the medical profession often err in withholding from patients that which it is best in the end that they should know. This is one of our most difficult lines to draw.
If you have not learned or are not determined to learn to endure the caprices and demands of unreasonable men and women in the most unreasonable hour of their lives, you have mistaken your calling; as without Christian patience, I do not believe it possible for a nurse to succeed for any length of time. The trials and vexations of a nurse’s life are so numerous and so constant, that it is a wonder to me that there are so many who are ready to enter this calling in life. There is no need since the revival of professional nursing for women to torture themselves or do penance. Be as ready to minister to disagreeable people as a person who two years ago wrote that she would take a fresh air child, saying “send me one of the dirtiest, most unattractive and unruly of the children, one whom nobody else wants.” An unreasonable, selfish and wilful patient is a purgatorial discipline for both nurse and doctor.
Remember that the most gentle and considerate of people will say and do things when sick unwittingly, that in health they would sooner cut out their tongues or destroy a limb than say or do. The mind is sick as well as the body, and the patient not responsible. Cultivate forbearance and endeavor to sear all your tender points. Be ever ready to excuse and believe that no slight was intended, unless it is reiterated and you are forced to believe it.
The physical and mental strain which you are at times called to bear will be very great; that you may be able to endure it, you must give special care to your health. You have been taught the laws of health, and yours is so arduous a calling you must observe them strictly. Dame Nature is a stern mistress, and if you disobey her you will surely suffer for it. When you are out of employment you will need recreation and diversion to keep both body and mind in the best condition. When you are in charge of a patient, the time away from the bedside is not yours to do with as you please, but for rest and fresh air; as you owe it to your patient to give the best possible service, and thus only can you do it.
You must cultivate the habit of observing the least change in your patient’s condition, so as to be ready to meet any emergency; it will not do to sit down and watch your patient as a cat would a mouse. Yet in severe cases your eye should hardly ever be off your patient; this should be accomplished and can be done in such a way as to be almost imperceptible to the sufferer. Every little change should be noted, and if any importance may attach to it, it should be written down as soon as you can conveniently do so. You are the physician’s eyes, ears, and hands while he is absent; you cannot therefore be too watchful.