VIII

NURSING IN HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE

Mental nursing as a profession for educated women has much to recommend it.  It is of absorbing interest to those of a sympathetic nature and of a scientific turn of mind, and it develops all the finer qualities, self-control, patience, tact, and common-sense.  It gives scope for originality and accomplishments of every kind.  The work itself is difficult, and is the one of all the many branches of nursing which demands the closest personal devotion and service, great as is the necessity for these in all forms of a nurse’s work.

Mental nurses are employed in (1) county asylums, (2) mental hospitals, (3) private work.

(1) County Asylums—­These may take from 1,000 to 2,000 patients each.  They are usually situated in the country with healthy surroundings and large grounds, and they are generally placed within reasonable access to some town.

Probationer nurses are received for training from twenty-one years of age.  They must be of good health and physique.  A nurse who is successful in this branch of work should be able to obtain her certificate from the Medico Psychological Board at the end of three years’ training.  The salary is L19 the first year, with an annual increase of L1 up to L35.  Free board, lodging, washing, medical attendance, are also supplied and uniform after three months’ trial.  The hours on duty are from 6 A.M. to 8 P.M., with two hours off for meals.  Nurses get leave from 8 P.M. to 10 P.M. daily and one day weekly; they also have fourteen days’ holiday after the first twelve months, increasing subsequently to three weeks a year.

The duties of the nurse in an asylum consist of the care of the patients, the supervision of the cleanliness of the wards and linen, and also of the work done by the patients in the various departments—­the needleroom, laundry, kitchen, corridors, etc.  It is obvious that in view of the number of patients, individual attention is practically impossible.  Entertainments of all kinds are provided for the help and amusement of the patients, and nurses are expected to assist in arranging these.  Consequently any one with a gift for music, acting, singing, or other accomplishment is an acquisition to the staff.

(2) Registered Mental Hospitals.—­These, owing to their different circumstances, vary much in their conditions of service.  Most of them are training-schools and receive probationers of good education, from twenty-two years of age, for a course of training.  This consists of lectures by the Medical Staff and Matron, the subjects receiving most attention being Elementary Anatomy, Physiology, and Psychology; and there is, of course, practical training in the nursing of mental cases:  in some hospitals a course of Massage and Swedish Drill are added in the fourth year.