Adult Content Warning

You have entered a site intended for ADULTS ONLY. If you are under the age of 18, or if it is illegal to view such material in your community, please exit this site immediately. This site contains mature content including but not limited to; articles, discussions, pictures and other materials that some people may find offensive. If such materials offend you, please exit this site immediately.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Rules for Nurses

In 1887, Nurses Had To Follow These 9 Ludicrous Rules.

If you’ve been to the hospital recently, you’ve probably noticed that the hospital relies on nurses in order to keep everything running smoothly. In fact, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 3.1 million nurses in the United States alone.

What you probably don’t know is that even with so many nurses, most nurses are severely overworked and underpaid. For all the sacrifices that nurses make, it’s hard to argue that they are fairly compensated. And it seems to have always been this way.


Check out these 9 rules nurses had to follow back in 1887.  It may not be this bad for nurses now, but we can all be doing a whole lot more to show our appreciation to nurses.

In addition to taking care of 50 patients, each nurse had to follow these rules:

1. Daily sweep and mop the floors of your ward, dust the patient’s furniture and window sills.

clip_image001


2. Maintain an even temperature in your ward by bringing a scuttle of coal for the day’s business.

clip_image002


3. Light is important to observe the patient’s condition. Therefore, each day fill kerosene lamps, clean chimneys, and trim wicks. Wash the windows once a week.

clip_image003


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.

clip_image004


5. Each nurse on day duty will report every day at 7AM and leave at 8PM except on Sabbath on which day you will be off from 12PM to 2PM.

clip_image005


6. Graduate nurses in good standing with the director of nurses will be given an evening off each week for courting purposes or two evenings a week if you go regularly to church.

clip_image006


7. Each nurse should lay aside from each pay day a goodly sum of her earning for her benefits during her declining years so that she will not become a burden. For example, if you earn $30 a month you should set aside $15.

clip_image007


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.

clip_image008


9. The nurse who performs her labors and serves her patients and doctors faithfully and without fault for a period of five years will be given an increase by the hospital administration of five cents per day.

clip_image009
Courtesy of Shareably


Wow! Talk about dedicated!

20 comments:

  1. Wow, a whole five cents a day after five years. God Bless them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure had to be dedicated didn't they, Sunny.

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  2. So, if they follow number 8,,,then they do not need time off for courting...
    hugs abby

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL Abby...they'd have permanent time off. ;)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  3. Sounds like the rules for teachers back then. Pay increases are also similar. Sad to say. Liked both Sunny and Abby's comments!

    Ella

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, Ella...was looking for the rules for teachers but haven't found them yet...will post if I do.

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  4. Those hours were brutal! Consider they were on their feet all those hours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brutal even if they weren't on their feet all those hours, Minelle!

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  5. Hi Cat, A lot has changed, but sadly the hours have not. Dil ( the midwife) works 12 and a half hour shifts often without so much as a cup of tea!
    love Jan, xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, Jan. When family members have been hospitalized, I've watched how long and hard the nurses have worked. Don't know about everywhere else but around here, nurses work three days - 12 hour shifts and have three days off.

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  6. Good grief! Don't think I would have signed up. Love No 6 lol. Thanks for the giggle Cat :)

    Hugs
    Roz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They sure had to be dedicated...just as they are today, Roz. ;)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  7. Gosh, it's a wonder anyone took the job.
    Rosie xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I said above, Rosie...they really had to be dedicated to helping.

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  8. Yikes, amazing anyone wanted the job! I'll have to share this one with my daughter the nurse.

    Hugs, Clara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'll have to let us know what your daughter has to say about these, Clara. ;)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  9. Good thing that these are very old rules! That's all I have to say! :) Fun read, Cuz! :) Many hugs,

    <3 Katie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They might be old rules, Cuz but the long hours are still true aren't they. ;)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete
  10. Heh. TBG is a nurse. He thought these were ridiculous. Amazing how much has changed!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Maggie...please thank TBG for all his dedication...quite a bit has changed but the hours sure haven't have they. ;)

      Hugs and blessings...Cat

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by. Respectful comments are always welcome.