Part 2

Hospital and Nursing Care

The new drugs which have been found so successful in curing pneumonia occasionally make the patient nauseated and uncomfortable for a time. The curative serums which are used for certain types of pneumonia, also may sometimes produce unpleasant reactions temporarily. With both treatments it is essential that the patient be watched over by alert attendants at all times. Hence many doctors prefer that the pneumonia patient be taken to the hospital as soon as he becomes sick so that he can have the benefit of constant nursing care and so that everything possible may be done to avoid unpleasant reactions or allay the symptoms if they should occur.

If the patient must remain at home it is evident that he should have the best possible nursing care. When a full-time nurse is not to be in attendance, then the visiting nurse should be called in promptly. She not only will give the care to the patient that the doctor orders but will instruct the members of the family who must attend to the patient’s needs during her absence.

In addition to receiving the treatment already discussed, it is essential that the patient’s position in bed be changed at intervals to relieve congestion and increase comfort. From lying on his back he may be moved to one side or the other, but this, too, must be done for him. So, it is evident that constant care is vitally needed.

The doctor’s orders must be followed to the last detail. Nothing is unimportant. The nurse will assist the attendants in following instructions. She will teach them what to observe in the patient’s condition, how to report the progress of the disease to the physician, and will advise the members of the family how to prevent the spread of the patient’s infection to others in the household.

The two booklets, “Home Care of Communicable Diseases” and “Caring for the Sick in the Home,” will prove useful as supplements to the nurse’s instruction. They are free for the asking.

Preventing Pneumonia

In general, it may be said that a good physical condition of the body lessens the chance of an attack of pneumonia. A sensible balance of rest and exercise to prevent undue fatigue, eating nutritious meals, and avoiding over-exposure and chilling, all may help. It is the part of wisdom to stay indoors with a cold, and in bed while there is fever, for your own benefit as well as to prevent giving your infection to others. While suffering from colds, grippe, tonsillitis, and the like, care should be taken to avoid exposure to draughts and rapid chilling of the body when overheated.

“Living the Healthy Life” tells how to keep fit. “What to Eat and Why” discusses the question of diet. “That Mean Cold” tells more in detail about the care of colds. Copies of all these booklets will be sent to anyone on request.

Overcrowding greatly increases the chance of spreading pneumonia from person to person. When colds and other respiratory diseases are prevalent, public gatherings should be avoided as much as possible. Rules of health departments forbidding spitting should be strictly obeyed by all. Special precautions should be taken against unnecessary contact with pneumonia patients and those recently recovered from the disease, who still may be carriers of the germ. This precaution is especially important for persons who are run down, or have some existing respiratory disease.

In the care of patients with pneumonia, the following precautions for the protection of others must be observed:

If the patient is treated at home, only those responsible for his care should be permitted in the sick-room.

The patient’s nasal discharges and sputum should be collected in pieces of cloth or soft paper and burned promptly. Droplet infection may be avoided by placing a piece of cloth or soft paper over the patient’s mouth when he coughs or sneezes, and this cloth or paper should be burned. Unnecessary contamination of bedding or clothing should be prevented.

The patient’s eating utensils, bedding, and linen should be scalded and washed in soap and hot water.

Dry sweeping or dusting of the sick-room should not be permitted; cleaning can be done safely only with a damp cloth.

After each time that care is given to the patient, the attendant should scrub her hands thoroughly.

Articles which cannot be washed should be thoroughly aired and exposed to sunlight out-of-doors for a day.

Points to Remember about Pneumonia

Pneumonia may attack without warning, but often is preceded by a cold.

If chills, fever, pain in the chest, and sputum tinged with blood occur, it is a signal to get to bed promptly and have the doctor called immediately.

New drugs have proved to be of great benefit in treatment, but for certain types of pneumonia both drugs and serum may be needed.

Good nursing care is vital. If the patient is not to be treated in a hospital, provision should be made for a full-time nurse, or for regular care by the visiting nurse.

Life Conservation Service of the

John Hancock MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS]

L63-9-40 Printed in U. S. A.

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Transcriber’s Notes:

――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (italics).