ACCIDENTS. 325 



nursing is often "half the battle." In the first place, 

 the nurse should faithfully follow the directions of the 

 physician. This obedience should be complete as to admis- 

 sion of visitors, as well as in administering medicine, etc. 

 The nurse often yields to the persuasion of some unwise 

 friend, " It won't do any harm for him to see me." 



Qualities of a Nurse. The nurse should have a quick 

 sympathy, and make the patient feel that all that can be 

 done for his comfort will be done ; yet this sympathy must 

 not lead the nurse to do anything for, or give anything to 

 the patient contrary to the orders of the physician. The 

 nurse should always be cheerful, even when the patient 

 is "impatient" and annoying in his demands. The 

 patient is not "himself," and no attention should be paid 

 to his unnatural irritability. 



The Room should be Cheery. The patient should 

 have a cheerful room, but the bed should be so placed 

 that the light will come not too strongly into his face. 

 Evidence of illness, such as medicine bottles, etc., should 

 be kept out of sight so far as possible. 



Hope. While it is not best to deceive the patient as 

 to his condition, there should at all times be kept up 

 an air of cheerfulness and hope. If the physician can 

 inspire with confidence, and the nurse give unflagging 

 good cheer, the chances of recovery are vastly improved. 

 Nothing sustains like hope. 



Pure Air in the Sick-room. Keep the air of the room 

 pure. Remove excreta and everything offensive just as 

 soon as possible. Do not rely on feeling as to tempera- 

 ture, but keep a thermometer in the room. 



Sympathy with the Patient. One of the necessary 

 characteristics of a good nurse is the power of imagina- 



