Making Good on Private Duty | Page 9

pleasant bed-fellow, but she seldom does. Of course you are not to tell
her that she is not fit to sleep with, but you can say that she needs and
ought to have the whole bed to herself, and you will sit by her and hold
her hand, or if she insists on it, you can lie down, with your house
gown on, on the outside of the bed, being careful to give her plenty of
space, and when she is asleep, get up quietly and lie down on your
lounge, which should be placed so that you can see her every
movement.

Never let the patient think for a moment that you fear her disease; if she
has diphtheria, do not tell her or the family that you have a delicate
throat or that it is sore, and do not examine it by the help of a
hand-glass where any one can see you. Do not go to such cases if you
really fear them, but if you go, and have reason to feel that you have
contracted the disease, tell the doctor as soon as you can, and if he
thinks you ill, he will send you home. Never tell a patient you have a
weak back or any weakness. Tell the doctor and he will see to it that
you have rest or medicine, but do not let the patient know it. Never go
about a sick room with a long face; it is enough for the sick one to have
to be sick; the family sympathies are all enlisted for her. You are there
to be a help and a comfort, not an added anxiety. Of course these
remarks do not apply to any of you who are tired from a long,
exhausting case. The family in such instances are ready and willing
enough to let you rest. Keep your cheery manner: all higher
considerations aside, it is money in your pocket to look cheerful. I have
known one or two good, faithful, conscientious nurses who were
dismissed from case after case, merely because they looked "so
doleful." It may seem curious to place a commercial value on a smile,
but in reality it amounts almost to that.
Be very careful to have your dresses fit you perfectly, and have them
well laundered, especially do not have them too stiff. In this connection
I cannot do better than to relate an incident that I heard of some time
ago. A nurse went to care for a patient whose first nurse had been
called to her own home, and she had not been in the room an hour
before the patient called her and taking her hand said, "My dear, I can't
tell you how thankful I feel that your dress is not too short in the waist.
Miss----'s dress was frightful!" This was only a nervous woman's whim,
but our success as nurses depends in many cases on just such whims, so
it is well to be careful. When the patient is well enough for you to come
to the family table at meal time, be sure to have on a spotless apron,
and let no sickroom odors announce your presence. It is worth more to
a nurse to have soft, dry, warm, sympathetic hands, than to have the
prettiest face ever seen under a cap, so be careful of them; after using
any antiseptics always have at hand glycerin and rose water, cold cream,
or something soothing to use. Never put a cold or clammy hand on a

patient. If it is cold and dry it can be laid on a hot, aching head, but
never do so if it is the least damp. If the hand is always damp, pour on
it a little alcohol, or eau de cologne, if that is preferred, or some toilet
water, then put it on the patient's head, and it will be all right. A simple
and very cold lotion is alcohol and water, about equal parts, and a piece
of ice added. Hold your hand in this a moment and then gently comb
the patient's hair (that which grows on top of the head) with the
dripping fingers, taking care not to let any cold water-drops fall on the
face. This is wandering somewhat from my subject, but I will let it
stand and speak of one more thing that is good to remember. Never lay
a warm hand on a patient's head, or a cold one on the body. If you have
to rub your patient's body, and your hand is warm and damp, shake a
little talcum powder into it, or use a little cold cream, cocoa butter, or
lanolin, and the dampness will not be perceived. Alcohol may also be
used, or bay rum.
Some nurses