Hospital Housekeeping by Charlotte A. Aikens

[Sidenote: The Linen Room]

The linen room is one of the very important parts of the institution. Demands will be made on it almost every hour, and, if the hospital is to do proper work, it must be equal to the demands. As well expect a carpenter to construct a building without tools as expect nurses to do conscientious work without a sufficient supply of bed and body linen to keep their patients in proper condition. Lack of knowledge on the part of the managers as to the amount of supplies necessary, rather than a lack of money, is accountable for the shortage of linen in many hospitals. An important part of the housekeeper's duties is to know what supplies are on hand, and keep the board informed as to the needs. Time, and tact, and perseverance in educating them as to what is absolutely necessary for proper work, will do much to correct such defects in hospital management. It is difficult for the laity, who are perhaps accustomed to having bedding changed in their homes but once a week, and then sometimes allowing for but one clean sheet for each bed, to appreciate that a constant changing of beds goes on in a hospital, both day and night, and that economy is out of the question. A hospital can really afford to be extravagant in the matter of linen. That is one point, and perhaps the only one, in which lavish expenditure will really redound to the good of the hospital. Better cut down expense in a dozen other ways than to give rise to the criticism that the hospital has not sufficient linen to keep its patients and its beds in proper condition. Cleanliness may be next to godliness in most circumstances, but no hospital can afford to let cleanliness take second rank with any other virtue. In fact, if want of cleanliness in the care of the beds or patients be noted, very grave doubts as to the godliness of the management will surely arise, be the professions in that direction never so loud.