The morning times., 1896-10-04
An Arduous Profession De-
manding Strong Qualities.
HER AVERAGE SALARY
There Is No Romance in the
Calling and There Is No
Love Making.

| comforts of home life, to endure tie ma
lures made pacvisb by disease, to per
form cheerfully the many tasks To ma ke
the sufferer comfortable, and meet try
ing situations calmly. need expect success.
The theory regarding the "mnistering
angel of the sickroonl produces a
.5iamour which attracts many sentimental
niadiens to this profession. The stern
| realities of nursing leave little time to
indulge in day dreams. Do not enter this
work solely for the purpose OF mailing a
living until you marry. -'fhe hali earted,
careless nurse is a detriment To the pro-
icssion. She can do more injury to her
sister nurses than one would suppose pos
siolc, for the public is ever more care
Iul To make kEown faults than good quail
ities. Moreover, your chance for niatri-
inony is not as favorable as it would be
in other fields. The sickroom is not the
place for lovcnaking. To say the least,
such purpose is lowering 10 the dignity
OF wnnIa nhood
We know of mothers who would not ir-
trust their grown sons when 50 i'll as TO
demand skilled nursing 10 the trained nurse.
and the only ob-ections were youth and
good looks on the part of the nurse. The
thoughtful person clearly sees that purs-
Ing demands the intelligent, educated and
huiilane woman of mature Years. One who
has passed the period OF romance. who
kHuws The realities of life how TO endure
pam, 10 give sympathy AMI remain firm
but KIND under great physical and ment al
WEAKNESS. such as all nurses must endure
ana such as underinines the health OF the
strongest. Nursing Is the shortest lived
OF The professions. and more than one OF
our best nurses. after a few years OF scr
vice. are completely broken in health
A few are inmates Of insane asylunls. prob
ably through loss of sleep.
MISTAKEN PURP
Some enter the work from mcrcenary
motives, and they are more often disap-
pointed than otherwise. Tor nohuInan being
can long endure the strain of continuous
nursing. Moreover, the crowded con,ii-
tiOn OF this, as Of other professions, says a
writer in the New York IEicpcudent, in
cilies, does not allow work to the average
nGisc mnre Than one-half of the year.
The following item appeared in the
News of Chicago a short time ago:
"A writer on woman's work places the
occupation OF trained nurse first, both in
its humanitarian aspect and substantial
pecunlary reward. The estimated income
of a graduated trained nurse who is sue
cessful In obtaining Work is from 81 200
TO $1,000 year.
The above does not present the facts.
The trained nurse is supposed to work
for $50 to S25 a week and board while
nursing. If she Worked the entire year
at $50 a week. her years salary would
amount to 81 300 and board. She has,
however, her room rent, which at least
is from SIS to SO u month, rs Il standing
expense.
Prior to five years ago the demand for
trained nurses was greater than the sup
ply, and nurse could, If her health per
Initted, work the greater part OF the year.
Since then the supply exceeds the demand
The graduate nurse of our best schools
Will seldom take a case in the large cities
for less than $50 to S25 a Week, She,
however, often has to wait from four to
six or eight weeks between cases The
nurse does well who makes from $500
to $500 year. One OF the best and ost
successful nurses doing private nursing in
Chicago for the past five years made only
$1,000 during her best year.
AS TO SALARY.
In the smaller cities and towns the
trained nurse may work for less than city
prices. Size averages $15 week while
atwork. Afterthree 10 five ycaIs ofpIivate
nursing the ma iuriiy OF nurses prefer
positions in hospitals at from $50 to $40 ii
month and board. They usually save more
Money at $50 a month and BOARD than ut
private DUTY
The woman employed at Si5 q week is
better off financially tLan over one-haf
II the trained nurses doing private Iiursirg.
Therefore genuine love for her work, witt,
the gratitude of her patients is the great
est rccGmpeBse nurse will receive. Nor
can her salary doubled pay for Ill that the
faithful, conscientious, devoted nurse does
for the helpless sick one Long, sleepless
nights; vigiis for the life SO dependent upon
Eer watchful care; weariDess of tody and
mind, 10 be thrown off by almost super
human power, must be her lot. She dares
not slumber, for some little neglect, some
slight crrGr, might result in that which no
earthly power could repair. She must
also be a keen observer. an exact reporter,
truthful In all matters and faithfully and
accurately oheying every order given by
the physician To fill this position as it
sheuld Ice filled requires strong women
physically strong, mentally strong and
morally strong -~ith so much of the cream
Of hunia II kindness in their characters that
10 know them is to trust them and know
that trust is sacred.
TRAINING SCHOOLS.
The woman who enters this work with
the desire to succeed and TO be an honor
to the profession will seek tile school
that gives the best training. The best
training is not found in the small hos
pitfalls. Is it rational to believe that
hospital Of twenty-five beds in eighteen
months time can give the same train
ing that the hospital of 500 beds gives
in three years? Every small hospital
that springs into existence must, it
seems, have training school connected
with it. Aside from giving cheap nurs-
ing to these small Institutions, no one
Is benefited. The public, the sick, the
pupil nurses in training, and the whole
nursing profession are the losers
There are some defects even in the
best schools. The most serious is the
number of hours required daily for hos
pital duty. From present indications the
time is not far distant when less physical
duty daily will be required of each pupil
The extended course Of instruction in the
best schools demands more time for mental
labor. That nursing s noble profession
none can deny, andthatnia very many,
noble women are engaged in it. To keep
the profession on the highest plane should
now be, the object of every person inter
ested in its welfare.