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Nursing of Children
"The number of children nursed up to 5 years was 188. 170 of
these were injections, the other 18 being circumcision operations
and dressings chiefly for burns. The children who have injections
only are a small minority. Other treatment is invariably necessary
including temperature, pulse and respiration.
The teaching of the Mother to attend to the child forms an
important part of the Nurse's work, especially in barrier nursing.
During her training it is impressed on the Nurse that a child is
always fearful of the unknown and all preparations for injections,
dressings etc., are made outside the room where the child
is. If a Mother is capable of learning to do the nursing this is
preferable as the child is usually less upset. For the first two
visits Nurse always carries out "General Attention", showing
the Mother how this should be done. All barrier nursing is done
by the Nurse, who gives advice to the parent on the application
of this nursing technique between her visits.
Number of children nursed between the age of 5 and 16 years
during 1955 was approximately 100. The same nursing technique is
applied to these patients but most children between these ages
need more nursing care as the older the child is the more he or
she is likely to resent the mother bathing them.
The Nurses are, at times, called upon to render first aid to
accidents and casualties involving children of all ages, especially
during the holidays. The Nurse is often left with the
responsibility of these cases as, after surgery hours, it is