Hospital Etiquette; the Nurse’s Duties to her Superiors
Hospital Etiquette; the Nurse’s Duties to her Superiors.—The difference between hospital nursing and private nursing is very great. The regularity of hospital life and the strict discipline which prevails are of great benefit to a nurse in assisting her to become punctual, trustworthy, patient, obedient, and courteous. Everything needed in the care of the sick is at hand in the hospital, and a sister-nurse and a doctor within calling distance. She has a number of patients under her care, whereas in private nursing she has to do with a single patient, and her success depends mainly upon making the relation one of satisfaction and esteem, and upon her ability to meet the sudden emergencies which may arise, having no longer the sister or doctor to call upon. She has also to meet anxious friends and relatives, who in their own opinion know how everything ought to be done.
The presence of a senior or a junior member of the hospital staff, the superintendent of the hospital, the superintendent of nurses, or strangers visiting the hospital is a severe test of the professional manners of a nurse. A nurse must always receive hospital officials standing, and remain standing like a sentinel on duty until they have left the ward or room. It is a courtesy due to the position which they hold. During the visit of a physician the nurses must be ready to accompany him, and answer any questions he may ask. If the head-nurse is in the ward, she will accompany the doctor on his rounds and answer all questions. A nurse must never answer a question or give the doctor any information about a patient or patients when the head-nurse is present, unless the question is put directly to her. The head-nurse is responsible for everything that occurs on the floor of which she has charge, and it is the duty of the nurses to keep her fully informed of everything relating to the patients. Perfect quiet must prevail while the doctor is examining his patient, particularly while he is using the stethoscope.
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[…] entered the Hospital Etiquette portion of chapter one of Practical Points in Nursing in the earlier evening. Pretty interesting […]