How to Care for the Insane: A Manual for Nurses — John Shaqi
How to Care for the Insane: A Manual for NursesGranger, William D.
Science
How to Care for the Insane: A Manual for Nurses
Granger, William D.
Psychiatric nursing
During the night, any accident, attempt at suicide or to escape, or
unusual violence, persistent sleeplessness, or being out of bed, a serious
sickness or change for the worse, or the approach of death, should be
reported to the physician. It is, in many institutions, the duty of the
night watch to report any neglect or misconduct on the part of an
attendant or employe, and it is something that should be faithfully and
impartially done.
Having briefly sketched the general duties of an attendant, it seems best
to again remind them, that an asylum is built and maintained for no other
purpose than for caring for the insane; that each patient is entitled to
the best our means can afford; that while the attendants are not
responsible for the medical treatment, they are for that kind and
intelligent care it is within their province to give; and they are also
reminded that, so far as it can be done, such personal attention is to be
given to each patient as will assist in recovery or improvement, or
promote his well-being.
CHAPTER VI.
THE CARE OF THE VIOLENT INSANE.
A careful study of each violent patient, of his habits, delusions, and
hallucinations, of his peculiar manner of showing violence, and a
knowledge of what is likely to provoke outbursts is necessary to properly
care for him. An attendant's ability to successfully manage a ward full of
patients will depend largely upon the study given to, and the thorough
understanding of, each case. Such study will soon teach him that every
violent patient has peculiar and pretty constant ways of showing and
exercising violence, and that the same rule of individuality holds good
among this, as it does among other classes of the insane.
Having learned what will cause violence, it can often be avoided by
removing the cause; having learned the symptoms that precede a patient's
outbursts of violence, they can sometimes be averted, or preparations made
to control them; having learned in what direction violence is shown, how
sudden, blind, or furious it may be, or how slow, deliberate, and planned,
the attendant is better able to meet, manage, and control it.
Few patients are so continuously and furiously violent as to need constant
repression, and the directions how to care for such patients can always be
given by the physician. Most violent patients are subject to the firm,
kind control of attendants, and can be kept sufficiently quiet and
orderly; they should never be left alone, and mops, pails, brooms,
chambers, and all other articles, that may become weapons should not be
left within reach. Strong comfortable clothing can generally be kept on
the most violent and destructive, with care and attention from attendants,
but not without.
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