Suggestions on a system of nursing for hospitals in India / [Florence Nightingale].

  • Florence Nightingale
Date:
[1865]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Suggestions on a system of nursing for hospitals in India / [Florence Nightingale]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/18 page 18
    APPENDIX III. Regulations for Female Hospitals. XI. The following regulations are to be observed in Female Hospitals, till complete arangements can be made :— 1. At every station where a Female Hospital has been provided, a Committee of Officers may be appointed by the Officer Commanding at the station, who will have charge of the Charitable Fund con¬ nected with the Institution, and will deal with all financial matters connected with it, which may be referred to them. A Committee of Ladies selected by the Committee of Officers will undertake the visitation of the Hospital, and the management of extra clothing supplied by the charitable fund. They will inquire into cases of distress brought to their notice, and will make thereon such suggestions to the Committee of Officers as may seem to them to be necessary. The Ladies’ Committee may appoint a Sub-Com¬ mittee of not fewer than three to perform the duties lierein-after mentioned. 2. The Medical Officer attached to the Hospital will take charge of all cases of sickness admitted therein, and also of lying-in women and their infants. He will prescribe Medicines for them from the Surgery Stores, and order Diets and Medical Com¬ forts from the Purveyor’s Stores (in conformity with existing Regulations as to Hospital Diets and extras). The scale of Hospital Diets will be that prescribed at page 60 of the Medical Regulations ; in addition to which the following extras will be allowed :— Wines, spirits, malt liquors, arrowroot, sago, eggs, milk, tea, sugar, beef tea or essence of beef', oranges and lemons; 4 oz. of oatmeal and 8 oz. of milk may also be issued on Spoon Diet, in lieu of 2 oz. arrow- root and 1 oz. sugar. The cases for which extras are prescribed must be invariably entered in the Medical Case Book by the Medical Officer, tvho will otherwise be held responsible for the cost of the issues. 3. The Purveyor will furnish female wards with the usual ward equipments ; he will see that the bed and body linen of the patients is properly washed, and that the wards are warmed and lighted to the satisfaction of the Medical Officer. 4. The Purveyor will discharge the same duties as to repairs in Female Hospitals as he does in Military Hospitals generally. 5. The Medical Officer is charged with the dis¬ cipline over the patients in hospital. 6. A Matron (who should, if possible, be competent to act as midwife), and one or more female nurses, will be allowed to each Hospital, on the requisition of the Principal Medical Officer, made through the Officer Commanding to the Secretary of State for War, and will be appointed in the following manner :— 7. All applications and testimonials respecting candidates for the office of Matron (who should be unmarried or a widow) will be transmitted through the Officer Commanding to the War Office by the Ladies’ Committee, who will make the necessary inquiries as to character and ability, and report the result through the same channel to the Secretary of State for War. The Matron, when appointed, will engage her nurses and other assistants, and will be held respon¬ sible for their conduct. Matrons, nurses, &c., will receive from the Purveyor such pay and allowances as may be sanctioned by the War Office. Whenever it is practicable to do so, a preference should be given in these appointments to deserving widows of Non-commissioned Officers, if found to be as competent as other applicants. Local Committees might select widows or unmarried daughters of Non-commissioned Officers to be sent to King’s College Hospital for training as midwives. The offices of matron and midwife should, when practicable, be held by the same woman. 8. Matrons and nurses in Female Hospitals will obey any regulations respecting discipline, and the proper discharge of their duties, which may from time to time be issued for their guidance. 9. The Matron or Nurse shall receive and obey the Medical Officer’s orders in all matters relating to the care and nursing of the sick ; general management and cleanliness of wards ; administration of diets and medicines, of enemas, &c. ; cleanliness of the sick ; the warming and ventilation of the wards ; and shall render to him whatever aid he may require in the wards. 10. In the event of a nurse disobeying the direc¬ tions of the Medical Officer, or being guilty of any improper conduct, the Medical Officer will bring the subject to the notice of the Matron, who will see that the cause of complaint is immediately removed. 11. If the Medical Officer is not satisfied with the result of his representation to the Matron, or if he is not satisfied with the manner in which the Matron conducts herself or performs her duties, he will notify the specific case directly to the Committee of Ladies, who will immediately take such steps as they may consider necessary, reporting the same to the War Office through the Officer Commanding. 12. Reprimands, suspensions, or dismissal of nurses for neglect of dpty. or for misconduct will proceed solely from the Matron ; and similar acts of discipline exercised on the Matron will proceed direct from the Ladies’ Committee. 13. When subscriptions have been raised for sup¬ plying articles for clothing, &c., to women and chil¬ dren while in the. Hospital, the Sub-Committee of Ladies already mentioned will superintend the issue of such clothing, and the Matron, or Nurse, as the case may be, will account to the Sub-Committee for all articles issued. 14. The Ladies of the Sub-Committee will be entitled to visit the Hospital daily at such times as the Medical Officer may appoint, and will also have the power at any other time of visiting patients who may specially send for any of them. 15. During such visits the ladies will not interfere with the treatment or nursing of the sick ; but if any matter comes to their knowledge which in their estimation concerns the welfare of the patients, they will, if it refers to nursiug duties, bring it to the notice of the Matron, or if it concerns the Matron herself, they will bring it before the Ladies’ Committee. 16. Chaplains will have the power of visiting the sick at such times as may be ai’ranged in concurrence with the Medical Officer in charge, and at other times when they are specially sent for by patients. 17. Friends of patients in Hospital will be admitted at times appointed by the Medical Officer. LONDON: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode, Printers to the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty. Eor Her Majesty’s Stationery Office,
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