The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-19
A NEW PROFESSION FOR WOMEN.
The Training School for Nurses and Kew
Cottage Hospital.
70 the Ed,tor ,. the 1nd,suapous Journal:

the assistant OF his choice IN the treatment
of a patient, it would commonly be a sensi-
BILE, orderly and perfectly obedient servant
Intelligent enough to understand and carry
out directions, but not given to original
thinking But in exceptional cases more
than this is demanded; and then he wishes
that the millennium were come and with it
the trained nurse, obedient because she
knows why obedience to the physician in
chargs is required, competent to observe and
record the events of the sick-room and eff
cient in the many emergencies of her calling.
BY one of the inscrutable dispensations of
Providence the sick of mankind have been
cared forever since there were any--by
class of persons for the most part incompe-
tent to obtain living in other callings, en-
cased in an ignorance the main characteristic
whereof is cumu!ativeness, and whose
experience merely confirms them in su-
perstitious reliance upon unusual and often
dangerous measures. a class having the
acquiesence OF the servant without the faith
full performance, and, withal, Just enough OF
the technical knowledge of nurse-craft 70
confuse. She might be pardoned an occa-
sional lapse into saffron or catnip tea, as
relatively harmless, but what of the 'bottle
on the chimbly piece and the tendency to
''put her lips to it when so dispoged?" With
time-honored dread of scarlatina and typhoid
fever, we find her cheerfully going from one
case of puerperal fever to another, in the
full consciousness Of duty done.
But new era is upon is. The Flower
Mission, society deservedly in the public
confidence, and the management of which
has always contrived to do a little more than
is promised, has undertaken the education of
capable women as nurses for the sick, aud
before many months have passed there will
be among ls persons who have chosen this
calling from natural adaptability, and who
have been taught their profession under the
best instructors the community can provide.
There is everything in favor of such step.
1t is profession peculiarly womans own,
wherein her natural sympathy and tender
ness, which are often rather impediments
than otherwise in the aggressive occupations
OF lie, wiz prove sure passports to success
calling which no thinking person can
consider other than honorable and fitting for
woman OF never so gentle birth and ma
ture If she have sound health and ordinary
seif-contr0l. Previous advantages, social or
otherwise Will only render her services in
sickness the more valuable and certain of
appreciation and reward. Furthermore it
is o well-paid calling; arduous and combining
perhaps even more SO than most caliings
which women adopt-but we'll paid and in
dependent in marked degree. A certifi-
cate OF graduation from an established train
ing school is a sure credential, and one
which the history of these institu-
tons shows to entitle its holder to re-
munerative employment from the start Nor
are individuals only benefited by training
schools fors nurses. 1t is a public educator,
not only within the numbes of those whose
calling it will be, but among those families
where their occupation lies. The contrast
between the scientific methods of the new
order and the rule of thumb which governs
the old brings lessons with it. as the quiet
efficiency OF intelligence must always give
confidence where fussy notions create dis
trnst With such an institution in our midst
We may hope that some of the enthusiasm
which now finds vent in the direction of
china and other ornamental pastimes may be
directed to study no less interesting and
the practical usefulness of which can never
fail to make itself infinitely valuable in every
household, rich or poor. With their usual
wise foresight our directors see in this not
only the means of spreading wisdom abroad,
but OF adding to the resources OF the school.
and propose to open the courses to all who
choose TO inform themselves in the branches
taught. alta certainsreasonable charge. AL
ready there are amateur applicants enough
for admittance to the courses to somewhat
embarrass those in charge.
For the success of the institution we have
good guarantee in the organization leading
the movement. The Flower Mission has
seldom entered upon any enterprise without
success. 1t has been remarkable that the
average capitalist of this city becomes as clay
in the hands OF the potter when assaulted by
an officer OF that persuasive body; that
lunch, fair, festival or whatever method
is chosen by their agents, is sure of success
Let us look elsewhere In Philadelphia
New York, Chicago and Boston. wherever
the movement has been inaugurated, it has
met with cordial support, and has been sus-
tanned generously for the short period until
1t becomes self-supporting. Before the
writer is a list OF opinions given by leading
physicians ia Chicago in regard to the work
done by the training school for nurses of the
Cook County Hospital. The writers hardly
End words to express their appreciation of its
york, and this concerning an institution
which has only been in existence two years.
In Boston, where the training school
has been at work for ten
years and formed one OF the
most useful features of her great hospitals,
the public have long valued the work, and
in every way encouraged it as a wonderful
comfort and safety to the sick. Perhaps the
best test OF its acceptance there lies in the
frequent attempt by the older nurses, not at
all trained, to pass themselves off as gradu-
ates, and to-day very careful directions are
given to those employing nurses that they
shall see the diplomas in every case. Many
of the wiser of the old nurses go to the
school, and the writer heard one say, after
lecture from DIR. Richardson: "The good of
this course is that it teaches me why things
are done and why other things are not done
| never knew or would know these points
without it," After few months of system
attic teaching and practice a nurse becomes
safer AND more efficient than by the same
number Of years of observation not
specially directed, and are chosen
by experienced surgeons before wo-
men grown old lin nursing at large.
1t is noticeable that the profession is recruit
ed from a superior class of young women,
and that rejections which by the rules of al
most all schools may be made at the end of
one month Of probation-for inefficiency or