The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-10-29
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR NURSES.
The Fifth Annual Meeting, With Inter.
esting Exercises.

On Monday evening October %, the intro
ductoy exercises to the regular instruction In
thiS school were held Marint Hail. The faculty and
managers Of the school well represented on the
PLATFORM DIR. i. NJ. Toner as president was in the
a. \ shford, DR.. A. F. a. King, DR.. j. s. Beae,
and DR.. ID. w. PTeutisS, with Others were present
ihe audience was large, including number of ladies'
Judge Macarthur, OF the District Supreme Court was
also on the platform. DIR. Toner, president opened
tile meeting with somewhat extended remarks pre-
vlOus Introducing Judge MacA rtbur and IN. rel
sentative of the faculty, Professor ID. w Prentiss
Dr. Toner alluded 10 the which graduates OF
the school had already met WITH and exalted the OF
the trained nurse He then referred to Florence ght-
ngae as the earliest and most efficient worker in this
field of education of nurses, criucisng unfavorahIy
the portrait Of her given In the November Ceatut
He repeated the story of his visit Miss Nightingale
and concluded his remarks by giving the statistics OF
nurses training schools in this country, furnished
by the Bureau OF Education At the close OF his re-
marks Dr. Toner introduced Judge Macarthur, who's,
address filled with humorous aud wittily-ex-
pressed sympathy with the objects for which the school
was founded.
Professor Prentss then delivered the annual ad-
dress. After extending hearty welcome to the
pupils and friends OF the school, who had taken "A
lively interest in Its success, he stated that the insti-
tuition was now entering upon its fifth year OF practi-
cal work. - We propose to show the public ~ he
said, the need Of educated nurses aud their supe-
riorlty; TO elevate the business of nurses 10 the stand
ard OF a profession; and, having awakened the de-
mand Tor their services to supply II in the persons of
trained nurses. lie referred TO the iuefcacy OF So
called professional nurses up to very recent date
their being advanced In life. and following the occu
patton of nurses for want Of something better TO do.
of their superstitons and want of discretion Ia COS
slipping with their patients on violent and fatal eases
Professor Prentiss insisted that we had no right to
ntrust the of sick and loved ones to such ip
norance and incapacity. He related the lamenta-
tOns OF mother over her dead son In his want of the
proper nursing which she herself had felt the seneft
Of, In contracting from him the typhoid fever
which caused his death The fears felt by ply
scians that trained nurses would Interfere with their
treatment was, he said, entirely unfOunded
so far at least AS the pupils Of this school
were concerned, for the Importance Of per-
1tCt huDUTulnatlOu TO the lOctDrig has
was constantly and fpTclbly Impressed upDn
them The necessity for male nurses their scarcity
and the lack OF education In those that could be OBJ
talned was also mentioned. The present project for
hospital bids fair TO improve this condition Of things
The remaining portion OF the address was of prac-
tical character, aud came with a very good grace
nom ono whose abilities have been so practically
applied from the incipency of the school Its
present successful advancement. lie emphasized
the Importance Of establishing at once a nurses
home and with II nurses directory. Thanks 10
the Efforts OF those kind friends NOW numbering
some three hundred rs membersj who had conducted
the Art Loan Exhibition and Martha Washington
tea-plIy It was possible to inaugurate such a
scheme, and feasible, under proper management, to
make II very nearly self-supDorting He would SCI
lect suitable house under the charge OF a matron
win sleeping apartments and board to be furnished
~ Ieasohaoe consideration 10 nurses out Of
ploymont with room also for such instruction as is
atthinhOle away fiOm the sick bed. such "IIome''
would supply urgent want that Is daily
experienced In this city, for every one would
know where TO obtain good nurse without DELAY
Whlch az present Is impossible. The matrOn would
harechaTge of an ONCE In the building, where nurses
directory would be kept-a practice already estab-
Iisbed In Boston, PHILADELPHIA and Cincinnati 'Tho
directory, besides containing register OF nurses and
ther engagements would also exhibit record of the
qualities good or bad, the efficiency inencency OF
those already employed, as obtained from the FAINT
Hes In which they had rendered service. such q
directory besides ahOrding sick persons prompt at
tenOn IN the hour OF need, would he OF lnnta con-
Nenience and utility TO strangers visiting the city as
WelaS their medical attendants In conclusion Pro-
lessor PTentss urged the necessity Of all Interested In
me enterprise eulsting the cooperation OF their
friends and placing the institution upon sound