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Nursing is a tough and often thankless job. Nurses must deal with patients, families, emergencies, and anything else that comes up while on shift. They are almost as knowledgeable as doctors but are in direct contact with patients daily. That means they have to do what they do with a smile on their face.

In 1887, nurses were also necessary for any hospital setting and had to care for a staggering amount of patients. 50 patients for 1 nurse is challenging enough. However, on top of learning how to care for people, and taking care of patients, nurses had to follow these 9 essential nursing rules.

1. Nurses must dust the patient’s furniture and window sills daily, along with sweeping and mopping the floors of their entire ward.

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2. Each nurse must bring a scuttle of coals to the hospital to help maintain an even temperature in the ward.

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3. Nurses must clean and maintain kerosene lamps on a daily basis to ensure doctors have plenty of light to work in.

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4. Nurses must take copious notes to assist the doctor’s work.

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5. Nurses will report to work at 7 a.m. and leave at 8 p.m. every day except the Sabbath, where they are off from noon to 2 p.m.

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6. Graduate nurses in good standing with their director may take one evening off each week for courting purposes, or two evenings if they regularly attended church.

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7. Nurses are required to set aside a “goodly sum” of their monthly earnings in order to save up for her declining years so she won’t be a burden. (50%)

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8. Nurses who smoke, use liquor in any way, get their hair done at beauty salons, or frequent dance halls will be subject to having their worth, intentions, and integrity questioned by their superiors.

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9. Nurses who perform their duties faithfully and professionally without fault for five years will receive a raise of five cents per day.

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