The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-22
THE SCHOOL FORCED OUT
HEALTH BOARD TIC TAKE CHARGE
OF THE HOSPITAL NURSING.
Miss Alice Ashby Appointed Superin-
tendent-The state Board of Charf-
ties Begins Its investigation.

Late Yesterday afternoon the Board of
Health formally announced the appoint
ment of Miss Alice Ashby as superintend-
ent of the new Training School for Nurses,
which the board intends to inaugurate at
the City Hospital Jan. / next. 1t is an
nounced that Miss Ashby will have entire
control of the nurses at the hospital. sub
ordinate. OF course. to the Board of Health
and the superintendent of the City Hos
pital. This precludes the possibility of any
! adjustment of the difficulties existing be-
tween the managers of the Indiana School
of Nursing and the board. IL the Indiana
School Of Nursing continues its work in
this city it will have to be outside the
hospital. The board, however, magnani-
mously promises not TO place any stumbling
blocks in the way of that Institution. How
it can exist without a way in which the
nurses can have experience in actual hos
pital work is not pointed out by the board.
1t is announced thai nurses now attend
ing the Indiana School of Nursing will be
permitted 10 complete their courses at the
City Hospital under certain restrictions. 1t
is the intention of the board to have an
advisory committee composed OF prominent
physicians and citizens. pass upon the
character and ability OF all APP
plicants for places in the new
school after their applications are
approved by Miss Ashby. If nurses now
at the City Hospital are able to secure
recommendations from the advisory COM
mittee they will be employed at the City
Hospital and the time they have already
passed in the Indiana School of Nursing
viii be credited to them. Salaries will be
the same as they are now. The course will
be of two years duration, as heretofore.
1T is announced. however, that the train
fnu If m n bur- raJ s- mo nfn
physicians Will he secured to give ~instruc-
tons. A NUMBER have already VoIunteered.
The personnel of the advisory committee
Is not yet known. 1t is understood, how
ever. that Miss Ashby will select the com
mittee' subject TO the approval of the
Board of Health. She viii also make rules
for the government of the nurses. again
subject to the board. The Board of Health
asserts, that the training school will be
controlled entirely by Miss Ashby, who
will have Infinite authority in all matters
pertaining. 10 the management of the train
ing school and the government of the
nurses. A clear line of demarkation is to
be drawn as to the relative authority of
the principal of the school and that of
the superintendent of the hospital and any
controversies are to be settled by the
board. The Board of Health asserts that
this change has only been made after due
consideration. the best good of the hos
Dital and harmonious management of the
Institution alone having been taken into
superintendent of the City Hospital have
come forward and congratulated the board
for taking this stand.
Miss Ashby received her training at the
city Hospital, and IS IL graduate of the
present school. After receiving her dip.o-
ma she was employed as superintendent of
a school in a Kansas hospital. She has
been recommended to the board by a num-
Der of prominent physicians, among them
Drs. Oliver, Wright and Edenharter, under
whom she served at the City Hospital as q
nurse, while she was taking the course. It is
claimed she is a model nurse, has consider
able executive ability and is in every way
fail IID0n her. Miss AShhV has hpan S1InPT-
intendeit of the Fresh Air Mission three
years.
at once. 1t is the intention of the board to
make preparations to take immediate
emergency arises. 1t is believed, however,
that the Indiana School of Nursing will con-
Year. MISS V Wicks' it ~ IS p pre sna Of w srg
withdraw at once.
CLAIM OF NO POLITICS.
The Board of Health disclaims that there
is any politics in the change. In support
of this contention it is pointed out that
all patronage is removed from the boards
hands, inasmuch as applicants are to be
passed upon solely by Miss Ashby and the
advisory committee. 1t is not denied that
the subject has been under consideration
for several weeks, and that Miss Ashby's |
selection was virtually determined upon
long before the managers of the Indiana
School OF Nursing and the public at large
had any idea hat such changes We're about
to be conSunnmated.
Just what will be the outcome of charges |
made by Miss Wicks against Superintend- |
ent Nichols. no one knows. Yesterday John
T.. Elder. Mrs. NJ. r. Peele, DR.. Mary
Spink and Prof. Demarchus Brown. mem |
bers OF the State Board of Charities and
Correction, began an Investigation at the
hospital. The committee employed a ste
nographer to take down the proceedings,
and decided to exclude press represent
attves. During the day witnesses tor the |
hospital side of the case were examined. |
That branch of the investigation WAS not
more than half completed. The evidence
went to show that the nurses had been
more or less insubordinate, out none of
them were examined, and their side of the
story has not been heard. DR.. Nichols de-
MED absolutely the charge that he had
been guilty of flirting with the nurses, and
he said that friction and 1nharlnuny ate
bound to exist so long as there is 4 division
OF authority. He cited instances where he
had been u~nJustly criticised by Miss Wicks.
ated Dr. Nichols, citing cases where nurses
had interfered.
The members of the Board Of Health. col
tecttveiy and as Individuals, declare that
the City Hospital. and hat information
was denied after the secret meeting Mon
day night at the direct request of the ladies'
representing the managers of the training
School. Or. Morrison, president OF the
board. said emphatically yesterday that the
board is not taking sides with Superln-
tendent Nichols against Miss Wicks. and
the managers of the schooi-In TACT, chat
the board is not taking side at all, and
VIII not do so until after the present III
is completed. If the rr;.orx of
the State Board of Charities and CorreC-
ton shows that DR.. Nichols 1r any enc else
mas been guilty OF any wrong DIR. Morrison
10 This assertion 1DrG ffino ord Nst,I1. ~,