In nursing school we learn about the ins and outs of nursing from bedside manner to wound care. Sometimes I think that this must be the toughest era to be a nurse in with technology changing faster than you can keep up with and union meetings taking up precious time. I found this list on Scrubsmag.com list that I think will make RN to BSN students grateful to be a nurse in the 21st century.
1887 Nursing Job Description
“In addition to caring for your 50 patients, each bedside nurse will follow these regulations:
1. Daily sweep and mop the floors of your ward, dust the patient’s furniture and window sills.
2. Maintain an even temperature in your ward by bringing in a scuttle of coal for the day’s business.
3. Light is important to observe the patient’s condition. Therefore, each day fill kerosene lamps, clean chimneys and trim wicks.
4. The nurse’s notes are important in aiding your physician’s work. Make your pens carefully; you may whittle nibs to your individual taste.
5. Each nurse on day duty will report every day at 7 a.m. and leave at 8 p.m., except on the Sabbath, on which day she will be off from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
6. Graduate nurses in good standing with the director of nurses will be given an evening off each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if you go regularly to church.
7. Each nurse should lay aside from each payday a goodly sum of her earnings for her benefits during her declining years, so that she will not become a burden. For example, if you earn $30 a month, you should set aside $15.
8. Any nurse who smokes, uses liquor in any form, gets her hair done at a beauty shop or frequents dance halls will give the director of nurses good reason to suspect her worth, intentions and integrity.
9. The nurse who performs her labors [and] serves her patients and doctors faithfully and without fault for a period of five years will be given an increase by the hospital administration of five cents per day.”
Okay, this is one of the few posts that I’ll submit like this. I just know that being in an RN to BSN program is stressful and if this gave you a chuckle today, then it was worth it!
To read the complete post mentioned in this article, please visit:
http://scrubsmag.com/a-list-of-rules-for-nurses-from-1887/
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What ever it may be but the general duties of a nurse involves treating patients, providing emotional support, educating people on medical conditions, giving advice to patients, their families and relatives.
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