Practical nursing : a text-book for nurses / by Anna Caroline Maxwell and Amy Elizabeth Pope.

  • Maxwell, Anna Caroline, 1851-1929
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical nursing : a text-book for nurses / by Anna Caroline Maxwell and Amy Elizabeth Pope. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Unselfishness.—In taking up nursing as a pro- fession, women should fully realize that it is one in which duty must receive their first consideration. They must be ready to give of their best to others and to help one another. In the hospital there are limitations to the amount of help students are allowed to give each other; because there are those who, consciously or unconsciously, fail to make the effort necessary to accomplish their work if they feel that help is always at hand. When help is permissible it should be given willingly. Unselfishness, however, like other virtues, can be carried to extremes, and thus defeat its purpose; for example, nurses who disregard themselves to the point of impairing their health. On the contrary, they should endeavor to combine a faithful performance of duty with a ju- dicious care of themselves, in other words they should be actuated by a true spirit of philanthropy, tempered by common-sense. Professional Etiquette and Ethics The object of this chapter being to draw the atten- tion of students to qualifications which will not only cause others to trust and rely on them, but will re- move many obstacles from their own paths, it seems well to include a few words regarding professional etiquette and ethics. Professional Etiquette.—The etiquette of the army is, to a certain extent, repeated in the hospital. The reasons for its existence need not be discussed here; those who appreciate order and lack of friction will soon discover many for themselves. Nurses are required to stand when speaking to those in au-