Subsidiary notes as to the introduction of female nursing into military hospitals in peace and war.

  • Nightingale, Florence, 1820-1910.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Subsidiary notes as to the introduction of female nursing into military hospitals in peace and war. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material is part of the Elmer Belt Florence Nightingale collection. The original may be consulted at University of California Libraries.

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    gradually leaven, not coldly withdraw from occasional compa- nionship with the other Nurses, they will, in the course of time, effect quietly a great deal of good. There should be some Rule of this kind— Any Matron or Nurse who may receive permission to serve Her Majesty without pay shall be, in all respects, bound by and amenable to the Regulations on pain of dismissal from the ser- vice, without permission of re-entering it. If this cannot be done, money can easily be returned in one shape or other; but it would have a good moral effect on the Nurses to allow of the admixture of unpaid Nurses, pro- vided they are strictly bound by the same Eegulations, and distinguished by no sort of peculiar designation. The Surgeons will dislike these unpaid Nurses; but, in the long run a firm, discreet woman, wlio is an efficient Nurse, can get on with any Surgeon who has his sick at heart. The Matron also will not at all like them, at first, but will find that she can rely upon them and that they quietly and effectually help her with the other Nurses: and, if she has her heart in her work, she will end by being just, though, perhaps, always a little extra strict with and jealous of them. The other Nurses will have, at the first, a strong little touch of republicanism towards them, which will gradually wear off, and, with Grod's help, a higher and truer moral tone, and a simpler and more useful kind of habits among them will prevail, than would otherwise be the case. As for the patients, with all their faults, trust them—trust the English soldier, and the peasantry from which he springs. What these poor fellows are we know, and need not discuss. They are worth suffering a good deal for; please God in the long run good will be done. If only we can keep clear of the false, pernicious, and derogatory system of puffery and fuss which others, for their own purposes, and from vague, silly good-feel- ing have wound around this work—a work essentially unpo- pular the moment we come to details! We have learnt what reality is and what its presence or absence in this business imports. As for the many and great other difficulties of the work, they must be appreciated, they need not be dreaded. The purpose is a good and noble one, and God grant it success! All we have to do is, to do our utmost, and leave the event to Him.