Nursing Ethics

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. Night-Duty. When detailed for night-duty, the junior nurse takes the first step in actual serious responsibility in her career. Once she has passed this first crucial test, her responsibilities progressively increase through the various stages of intermediate and senior work, until finally, if she has displayed the requisite ability in meeting them, she becomes qualified for the most important post of all--that of head-nurse of a ward. A junior nurse is not put on her first night-duty until she has already passed through about four months of training. She has, therefore, had time to learn the first principles of her practical work, which she will now be expected to apply on her own responsibility and without having her head-nurse, or some other older nurse, constantly at her elbow to observe, direct, assist or encourage her. Night-duty is also a wonderful test of the ethical side of nursing. It touches it at almost every point and brings out the weak and strong points in a woman's character. The nurse should, therefore, bear in mind that it affords opportunities for the development of such characteristics as will strengthen the moral side of her nature. There is no better time for learning to develop self-dependence, 1S8 self-control and good judgment. To be sure, she always has the privilege of calling upon the night-headnurse for advice and help in untried situations, but it is not desirable to make too frequent appeals, and she therefore displays her judgment, in knowing when to have recourse to such help, and in proving that she can distinguish between grave and trivial situations. Above all, night-duty is an admirable test as to the amount of forethought and system that she possesses. The former is necessary for...