Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-03-04
TRAINED NURSES.
4 Field for Women With Clear Heads and
Steady Nerves.

Steady Nerves.
In this world of suffering many find
their lifework beside the couches of the
sick and dying. Some have this work
thrust upon them by the stern hand of
duty; others voluntarily devote their
lives to lesseniDg the human misery to
be found about them, while third
class undertake the work for money.
Necessity, or desire for independ'
ence sends forth each year large mum
Der of young women to swell the ranks
of the worlds workers. and, to me, none
seem to have chosen a nobler calling
or to be better equipped for life's work
than the army of trained nurses sent
out from our hospitals. Those who
have served the apprenticeship, varying
in time from eighteen months to three
years, go forth, not necessarily harden
ed, but accustomed to sights and sounds
of suffering trained not to give way to
their feelings on even the most trying
occasions, to obey the DOCTORS orders to
the letter, to note the slightest change
in the patients condition, to follow
the best methods for promoting the
comfort of the sick and assisting nature
in her efforts to restore health.
There is a demand for this sort of
knowledge, and it is profitable from a
financial standpoint Trained nurses
receive good wages, the most profitable
field of work being the large cities. OF
course, every one may not succeed in
this work. am informed that hardly
one-half of the probationers at a GER
tain woman's hospital finish the course.
Some find the work harder or more dis
agreeable than they expected, can not
overcome their nervousness at behold
ing painful operations, or for various
other reasons, but those when it has
been my pleasure to know, who have
| finished the course and are now work.
ing independently of the hospital, are
quite devoted to their work.
have several friends and acquaint-
ances who are trained nurses, and per-
haps few items from the experience
of one who has recently spent part
may be of interest to those young woin-
en- who are about to choose some voca-
ton. She commenced teaching at sew
enteen. After five years work, she
found herself worn and nervous, with
very little love or enthusiasm for teach
ing, but work she must as her parents
were poor.
just at this time a lady of her ac-
quaintance was taken ill and she was
persuaded to undertake the nursing of
her. She succeeded SO we'll that the
doctor and her friends urged her to fit
herself for this work
Sending an application together with
q certificate of health from a physician
and recommendation from her pastor,
to hospital for women and children,
she was voted in on months proba-
ton donned her uniform of striped
gingham with white apron and cap and
went to work
The first few weeks were homesck
ones, but as she wrote, They pay
very little attention to that kind of
sickness" and the only remedy was
hard work.
The kitchen matchmaking of gruels,
poultices and various other disagree
able duties-was given to the newcom-
ers, but as they became more skillful
their lot was easier.
At the close of her probation she was
accepted and at the end of eighteen
months graduated with honor, For
her services at the hospital she received
from six TO twelve dollars month,
board and washing. She had regular
hours of work, regular meals and a
certain amount of instruction, in the
form of medical lectures, followed by
examinations Her services since her
graduation, have been in demand al
fifteen dollars week.
While under training, nurses are of
ten sent out in the city to nurse, their
wages, excepting the regular salary,
go to the hospital At this particular
hospital, the nurses, physicians and su.
perintendent were women, and it is un
necessary to state, that in spite of hard
work, the nurses managed to have some
enjoyable times.
My friend with several other nurses
rent furnished rooms in physician
house, which they occupy between
cases or when they need a rest Two
nurses room together, thereby lessen
ing expense of rent but it seldom hap
pens that both are free to occupy it a
the same time. One comes and another
goes Busy lives! But are not the
busiest people the happiestP-Mary
Slosson Stetson, in Housekeeper.
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