The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-30
HEALTH BOARDS STATEMENT.
Reviews Past Differences with Train
Ing School Managers.

The Board of Health has prepared the
following written statement of the differ
ences between it and the managers OF the
Indiana School of Nursing. The statement
is signed by DR.. Frank A. Morrison, presi-
dent of the board, and the other two mem
bers. Drs. Cline and Field.
I'm recent communication to the public
the Indiana School for Nursing, through
its committee, has presented what puT-
ported to be the facts in connection with
the resolution of the Board of Health ITO to
hereafter place the nursing in the City
Hospital under the direct control or the
Superintendent of that institution.
THE impression sought to be conveyed
was that the relations of the training school
and the hospital up to the present had at
all times been pleasant and devoid of fric-
of Drs. Wishard, Oliver, Edenharter,
Ferguson and Wright, all ex-superinten-
dents of the hospital, were mentioned. Inc
Board of Health had not thought it neces-
sary to make any reply, believing the abb
surdity of the, statements of the board OF
managers of the training school to be a
matter of general knowledge. At the So
licitation OF one of the eX-SuperlntendentS
Of the hospital. we have concluded to issue
the following statement of facts:
Promising this nmun1catlon with the
statement that every ex-superintendent OF
the exception of DR.. Wishard who has not
been seen, wishes 1t to be understood that
his name has been used without his knowl-
edge or consent in the communication OF
the secretary of the board of the training
school above mentioned.
1.-THE Training School for Nurses was or
ganized by the Flower Mission some thir-
teen years ago and the present board now
known as the Indiana Training School Tor
Nurses was at that time committee OF
school. At this time the city entered into
an agreement with them by which y,il certain an
set aside for the accommodation or the
nurses, light and heat furnished and
stated sum per annum paid. In return for
this the school to give the services OF
it's pupils nurses to the city Hospital
This continued until two or three years
between the Flower Mission and the com
mittee above mentioned, the former with
drew from all connection with the school,
and the latter organized themselves into
the Indiana School for Nursing. and con-
tinued to carry on the seho6l at the nos nos
of this board of managers that no trouble
had ever occurred by reason of the con-
nection of this school with the hospital un-
til the last few months, the Board of Health
are in possession of facts to show that IN
no instance did any upper ny Oh wi the
out more or less friction with the framing
school.
ttlkime of Dr. Wishard, who was in office
a the time of the organization of the
training school, have been in order Drs;
Oliver Edenharter. Ferguson, Wright and
TAT the very inception of the school DR..
Wishard, according to his own statement,
was compelled to order nurses from the
wards. Next. under Dr. oliver, there oc-
Cured a clash of authority and it became
necessary to remove the superintendent or
the Training School upon demand of the
superintendent of the City Hospital. Under
DR. Edenharter the disturbance reappeared
and it was only by the exhibition of the
utmost firmness on his part that discipline
was maintained. Then followed DR.. Fergu-
son, who at once had trouble with the
school over the question of the right of
the superintendent of the hospital to con-
troll the nurses on the wards. Following
every conceivable form of interference and
annoyance. And now is indicating the at
utude of the school toward the manage
ment of the hospital, we have the state
ments, in substance given by the president
and secretary of the board of managers of
the training school, and appearing in the
stenographic report of the proceedings of
the State Board of Charities, that
the superintendent of the hos
pital could not dismiss a nurse, order
the superintendent of the training school
from off the wards for characterization be-
superintendent of the hospital And. fur
Their. they commended the superintendent
of the training school for using her own
judgment or discretion in changing or car
rying out the prescribed lines of treatment
by the physician in charge. The facts bear
ing on the relation of former superintend-
ents of the hospital and the managers of
the training school, but for the objections of
these managers to permitting the inquiry to
Nichols, would have been brought out at
the recent investigation. The objection was
sustained by the examining committee.
These being the facts, given on the au-
thority of the various superintendent and
physicians of the hospital, the Board of
Health unanimously decided that the posi-
ton of the training school could not be
maintained and in the interests of harmony
and the proper instruction of the nurses
to the relation which a nurse bears to
the physician and the patient, demanded
that this change be made In this position
we are supported by such members of the
visiting staff of the City Hospital as Drs.
Maxwell, Marsee, Painter Hodges, Pfaff
Stillson, Thompson. Walker. Cook. Brayton
and others. and the four ex-superintendents
of the City Hospital above mentioned.
THE Board of Health fully realized before
taking this step the opposition which it
would provoke. but in their official position
duty should prevail before sentiment. No
one can realize or appreciate better than
a member of the Board of Health the great
work which these laules performed in or
ganiZing the training school, but
experience has demonstrated that
in the management of a public
institution everythin must be under
the absolute control of one responsible head
and in the matter of hospitals efficient
nursing cannot be secured where there is a
dual loyalty imposed upon the nurses.
MARTIN II. FIELD
FRANK A. MORRISON
"IEWIS c. CIINEn