PREFACE THIS book makes its appearance in response to many requests that the writer put into more available form the subject matter of her classes with nurses. Mental symptoms in some form and degree are so likely to appear in almost any of the disorders of physical function and are so frequently met in the wards of a general hospital, where too often they are overlooked and misinterpreted by nurses whose training has not included this important study, that many patients are undoubtedly misunderstood and made more miserable and unhappy, and not infrequently in the course of somatic disease grave mental symptoms develop which demand special nursing procedures. It is most desirable that the training in mental nursing be received in a hospital for mental patients, where all types of mental disorders are represented and all grades of symptoms may be noted, and where the larger groups give a more outstanding picture of the various types. The writer's method has been to precede the course in Mental Diseases with a review of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and a brief summary of some of the principles of psychology which explain mental function; to follow each lecture, given by a physician, with a class in which the subject matter of the lecture has been reviewed and the nursing measures applied. Symptoms have been carefully reviewed and emphasized, for, as an eminent physician has said, “While signs are the province of the doctor, symptoms are in a peculiar way that of the nurse" and their observation and recognition are an important part of the nurse's training. The subject matter of these classes has been derived from many lectures, clinics and staff meetings, and the nursing procedures suggested are those simple measures which a thoughtful nurse can make use of to relieve a patient who is depressed, to quiet a restless and excited one, to arouse one who is indifferent, to manage one who is resistive and quarrelsome, the timely application of which can do much to prevent a more serious condition and consequences. Acknowledgment is gratefully made to many writers and physicians from whose works and teachings these classes have been made up, and especially to George H. Kirby, M.D., for many suggestions and for the criticism of this manuscript. BANGOR, MAINE. HARRIET BAILEY. |