quiet way, wherein lies her charm. If it is quietness, exactness,
cheerfulness, or ready tact--it must be something--and if you are
clever you must see how it happens that she is preferred. It will
be a good lesson for you. Perhaps you will never have such another
chance for learning what you have found out by experience you
lack. So do not waste your time by allowing yourself to feel
jealous, but use it as a time of study, and you may reap a rich
reward by winning your next patient's confidence.




VII

WHY DO NURSES COMPLAIN?


It seems to some of us, judging from the prevailing tone of
nurses' conversations, that this is a veritable age of discontent.
We hear that a nurse's life is confining; that it is wearing on
the nerves; it keeps one from enjoying society; it is not
sufficiently remunerative, etc., etc. We all know, without going
into further particulars, what a nurse could complain about, and
though each one's tale of woe may be perfectly true, it seems to
me we are not wise, as nurses, to allow the trials of our
professional life to occupy such a prominent position in our
thoughts.

Let us glance at some of the other professions, and see how the
members of each regard their chosen work. What is the prevailing