l. Daily sweep and mop the floors of your ward,
dust the patient's furniture
and window sills.
2. Maintain an even temperature
in the ward by bringing in
a scuttle of coal for the day's business.
3. Light is important to observe
the patient's condition.
Therefore, each day,
fill kerosene lamps,
clean chimneys and trim wicks.
Wash windows once a week.
4. The nurse's notes are important in
aiding the physician's work.
Make your pens carefully;
you may whittle nibs
to your individual taste.
5. Each nurse on day duty
will report at 7 a.m.
and leave at 8 p.m.
except on the Sabbath,
on which day you will be
off from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
6. Graduate nurses in good standing
with the Director or Nurses
will be given an evening off
each week for courting purposes
or two evenings a week
if you go regularly to church.
7. Each nurse should lay aside
from each pay day a goodly sum
of her earnings for the benefits
during her delcining years
so that she will not become
a burden to her family.
For example,
if you earn $30 a month,
you should set aside $15.
8. Any nurse who smokes,
uses liquor in any form,
gets her hair done at a beauty shop
or frequents dance halls
will give the Director of Nurses
good reason to suspect her worth,
intentions and integrity.
9. The nurse who performs her labors
and serves her patients and doctors
without fault
for five years,
will be given an increase
of 5 cents a day,
providing there are no
hospital debts outstanding."
The above manual was written 111 years ago. Let us not hear any more talk about the 'good old days.'"