The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-05-04
The NetIey Nurses
Versus American Nurses

The attention of the country is at this
moment necessarily turned to a considera-
ton of hospital nurses, who shall be called
upon to care for the sick and wounded SOL
diers of the American army.
Many brave, patriotic women have al
ready volunteered their services as nurses,
and schools for the speedy training of such
material have been established in the va
rious large cities of the country.
The English government is far in advance
of the United States in the matter of edu-
eating army hospital nurses, as fifteen years
ago it established a school at Netley hos
pital in which to educate only such nurses
as would be required by the army. Nettey
hospital naturally was selected for this
work, as Queen Victoria had founded 1t
Immediately after the Crimean war, in
spired by the magnificent results achieved
by Florence Nightingale among the wound
ed and dying English soldiers. The stu
dents at Nettey taught with scrupulous
care, first as probationers and then as reg
istered nurses, from five to six years Inc
government furnishes no diplomas until
the severest examinations are successfully
passed. After a woman has graduated at
the Netley hospital she becomes member
of the British army, subject to the de-
mands of the government and pledged to
submit to the rigid discipline under whicn
army nurses are controlled. nurse must
at any hour of the day or night be pre-
pared, upon a moment UOtiCc, ~ 81 ~
any part of the world, where her services
may be needed, to the jungles of Africa
the shores Of the Nicer tc the frontiers
of Ipdia.
THESE nurses wear peculiar UNIFORM
while travelling and like soldiers are DUR
dened with as small an amount Oh luggage
MS possihje In the hospitals the nurses
costumes are similar to those worn in all
such institutions, but for outdoor wear they
use {. long cloak and small black ponnet.
They generally travel in hospital SHIPS In
going to distant lands. The duties Oh these
nurses consist in serving in the hospitals
near the scene of combat, or to so into
csmp where disease is wasting the troops,
erect a tent hospital and begin active care
and treatment of the stricken soldiers
The Netley nurses are prepared to treat
cholera. jungle fever, or any disease OF
any country or climate.
When the English government orders the
sick soldiers home from foreign lands the
Netley nurses go out on the ships and
bring the sufferers back to England
They are thoroughly drilled for ambu-
lance service, under fire, and while their
duties do not frequently call them to the
field Of battle, they are prepared to admin
lister elief under all and every emergency
The salaries of the Netley nurses are
paid by tn English government and they
are decorated for any proofs of especial
courage and ability. Some nurses have
os many as five medals presented by the
government, or by Queen Victoria herself.
as rewards of merit for unusual services
rendered
Honorable discharge in old age is accom-
panied with pension.
The present crisis has brought to the inn
mediate attention of the people the need
of this country for a corps of nurses,
trained and equipped by the national gov
eminent with the same methods as those
adopted by the English nation in preparing
In times of peace the Netley nurses for the
times of war.