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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    thority, and to give precedence at all times not only to their superior officicrs, i. e., the superintendents, doctors, head nurses, but also to their seniors in the school. The members of the senior class should not be on familiar terms with their juniors, as they may be placed in positions of authority, and they will not obtain unquestioning, prompt obedience from those with whom they are too familiar. Professional Ethics.—In this instance, profes- sional ethics may be denned as the moral obligations which nurses owe to their school, its officers, doctors, their patients, and each other. Obligations to the School.—A nurse's obliga- tions to her school are twofold, viz.: (i) to so con- duct herself in action and speech that she will do her part in gaining for it a good reputation; (2) to report conduct in any of her fellow-students which is likely to bring discredit upon the school. Obligations to Officers.—By officers is meant all those in authority, but especially the superin- tendents, doctors, and head nurses. The two great obligations due to them are obedience and restraint from criticism. Obedience has been previously dis- cussed. The second obligation is, unfortunately, daily and hourly forgotten. Every nurse in the school can see what she considers faults in the manage- ment of the hospital; the majority are ready to take offense at the slightest cause and to discuss their real or fancied injury with their class friends. Criti- cism of those in authority is harmful, because it generates a feeling of discontent in the school. Those who have a high sense of honor and loyalty will therefore not indulge in it. The officers of a hospital are not infallible, they frequently make mistakes,