Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-21
rRAINING NURSES.
How women are Taught to be Useful
in Sick Room.

The training school for nurses Is in little red
brick building at the corner of 18th and F
streets partially over store. A light shines
above the transom at all hours of the night. It
is there where women, young, middle aged and
elderly are taught to be gentle and kind and to
administer to the wants OF the sick, relieving,
as far as possible, the pains Of suffering human
ity. Women who wish to devote their lives to
nursing the sick are there taught all 1t is neces-
sary for q good nurse to know, and the sick are
there furnished with careful nurses or informed
where they may find them. Strangers who are
Ill at ah hS'es or a6eres
accompanied with the experience and knowl,
draw in case Of need. They are taught 70
bed in 2 strange place: 4 STAR reporter rang
was admitted by colored man, and was pre-
sented to quiet, gentle-spoken lady, vino had
just stopped at the head OF the stairs as the re-
porter entered. Her face bore an expression
Of inquiry, mingled with something of concern,
as the visitor advanced TO speak to her. as if she
expected to hear some story of suffering and
to be called upon for assistance But, on learn
ing the object of his visit, she invited the re-
porter up into q plainly furnished sitting-room
institution.
THE PLAN OF THE SCHOOL.
The school was established in 1877 by mem.
bers of the medical society, with the co-opera-
ton of several benevolent ladies in Washing
ton. The object is to train nurses SO that they
can go out and care for the sick, taking the
place of mothers and wives when they are alb
sent, or performing the duties that these ma
tural nurses do not always understand. A
regular course of instruction is given and lee
lures are delivered by prominent members of
the medical fraternity each season, commence
ing in October, and the necessary instructions
extend into medicine and surgery sufficiently
to give them q knowledge OF how to care for the
III IN all cases and to supplement- the work of
the physicians. The course Of training extends
through two years, and the students in train
ing are taken into the hospitals for experience.
The Instructions are all free to those desirous OF
becoming nurses, the object of the institution
helng merely to increase the number of trained
nurses.
TALK WITH TIE SUPERINTENDENT.
"Thus far" the superintendent said to the re-
porter, mo men have applied for admittance to
| the school. There are about thirty students,
ranging in age from twenty to forty-five some
married and some single. The most OF them
seek this field OF labor as means OF making a
living, though probably many have u natural
| romance about it, though that may enter in
| sometimes, but there is much that Is pathetic,
| and great deal more that is practical. There
are comparatively few persons unframed who
know how to care for the sick, and when a per-
son is stricken down, away from home and
friends. the presence of . careful, trained
and care for one is blessing that you must reel
the need OF TO appreciate. We have young and
ladies who %a are studying to become
| are hired to care for the sick at hospitals in
private houses, and at hotels. We keep IA dlrec-
tOry-ths is the directory office well as train
ing school-and can find nurses, when needed,
at any hour OF the night or day. Several of the
best nurses live here when they are not en-
lars concerning those who live elsewhere. There
are eI, hty-threc names on the register, and
there have been fourteen graduates from this
school, ten Of whom are in practice. Illustrated
lectures are given every Monday and Friday
during the season, beginning In October. The
bruncnes in which they are Instructed are sim
pie, but very necessary to the training of u good
nurse"
WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT.
1.-THE students are taught continued the
lady, "in the dressing Of blisters, burns, sores,
and wounds; the application Of Concentrations,
poultices, and minor dressings: the application
and management OF leeches; the adninislra-
t1On Of enenlilS and the use Of the hypOdermic
syringe; the keeping of records OF the tempera-
ture, pulse, and respiration; the best method ot
applying friction to the body and extremities;
the management OF helpless patients, moving
and changing; giving baths; preventing and
dressing bed-sOres and regulating positions;
making bandages and rollers; banaaglny; max
ing patients beds and changing bedding with
least possible disturbance 70 the invalId the
preparation of nice articles of diet and the best
methods OF feeding the sick, and how to keep
the sick room clean and properly ventilated.
Fry, DR.. q. A. Acker, DR.. II. NJ Cuts, DE- H. l..
f. johnson, DR.. e. D. Harrison, DR.. J. X. Brom-
well, and Others"
.'Do other than those who expect to become
professional nurses attend the Iectures?' asked
the reporter.
Eyes. The lectures are free to the nurses, but
there is small charge for such persons as dO
not intend to enter the profession. There are
many ladies with families who do not know
what to do when anybody Is taken sick in the
house Many women VINO want to make good
wives and mothers attend lectures, SO that they
may understand the ordinary care of the sick
when their duties call them 70 the side OF sick
bed"