Workhouse Nursing: The story of a successful experimentNightingale, Florence
History
Workhouse Nursing: The story of a successful experiment
Nightingale, Florence
Nursing; Poor -- Medical care
The experience of the past year renders it certain that the Poor
Law, as now existing, offers no impediments to the successful
working out of the most complete scheme for the efficient nursing
of the sick, in the manner advocated by the best friends of
hospital nursing.
(Signed) GEO. CARR.
_From the Report of_ Robert Gee, Esq. M.D. _Physician to the
Workhouse Hospital_.
5, Abercromby Square, Liverpool,
_May 10, 1866_.
Sir,
In the medical wards of a general hospital the cases vary so much
in nature and degree from year to year, as to render it impossible
to give a reliable statistical comparison of the value of a paid
as distinguished from an unpaid staff of nurses. I am, therefore,
necessarily compelled to report in general terms on the nursing of
the last ten months in the male medical wards; premising that what
I say in approbation of the new system, and the new staff of
nurses must not be construed as an unfavourable reflection on the
_whole_ of the previous staff. The paid superintending nurses of
departments, and a few of the unpaid pauper nurses, deserve great
credit for their conduct, though their qualifications for the
service were decidedly inferior to those of the trained
“Nightingale” staff.
With regard to the latter I can cordially bear testimony to their
ability, and to their unwearied and uniformly kind attention to
the patients under their charge. As to their nursing in its
specific sense, I may state my belief that in every case my
directions and those of the House Surgeons have been rigidly
carried out. The medicines, stimulants, &c. &c. have been
carefully administered, and the other numerous but less agreeable
duties have been faithfully and efficiently attended to. Under
their charge I have perceived a marked improvement in the
demeanour of the patients—in fact, the discipline of the wards is
completely changed. There has been no disorder or irregularity,
but a sense of comfort, order, and quiet pervades the whole
department. I believe further, that every patient leaving the
wards has been more or less morally elevated during his location
there.
_From the Report of_ J. H. Barnes, Esq., _Surgeon_.
_March 21, 1866._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account