The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-06-25
TRAINED NURSES
AID SOCIETY
New York to Inaugurate a
Benefit Association.
To Be Patterned After the English
System.
Nearly Twenty Thousand Men md
Women VIII Profit by This
Splendid Scheme.

In the United States there are be-
tween fifteen and twenty thousand trained
nurses No insurance society will issue
sick benefit policies TO nurses on account
of the great risks to which they are ex-
posed by their vocation.
The average earnings OF the trained
nurse is between $500 and $500 a year
The average salary is s25 week, but they
are not always engaged. A majority Of
these nurses have some one dependent up
on them. and consequently there are few
who are able to save much for old age
or the rainy day" After the lapse OF
twenty-five years OF faithful service, the
trained nurses OF America are about 20
follow the example set in England. where
there IS mutual benefit society and a
pension fund for the superannuated trained
nurse. of which society the Princess Chris
tian is the patron and founder. And now
the United States is to have similar or
ganization, for on the 22d of March, 1899.
Governor Theodore Roosevelt, of New
York. affixed his signature to a bill au-
thoriZing the formation and describing the
government of The Trained Nurses
United Aid Society Of America" which
last is the logical sequence of THE Net
ropolitan Trained Nurses Club of New
York.
Nurses in other cities and nearby States
saw the advantages of belonging to this
club, and applied for admittance. A few
more were taken in, but finally the whole
system was reorganized, and turned into
a national affair. with headquarters at No.
10 West Forty second Street. New York
city. The officers are: William Watt Saer-
man, president; James l. Higginson,
treasurer; Mrs. Mary Hatch Willard. sec
rotary and manager. The board OF man
ayers: William w. Sherman, DR.. Clement
Cleveland, Theodore X. Gibbs, John E.
Parsons, DR.. Edward p. Flower, James L.
Higginson, Lorilard Spencer, Julius 7.
Davis, all OF New York city.
All the officers and managers serve with
out salary or compensation Of any SORT
Mrs. Willard gives the Offices, so the only
expense the little society will have at the
outset will be for the necessary printing
and the salary of a bookkeeper.
The object of the Trained Nurses United
Society is the relief OF trained nurses who
are laid by from duty on account of illness
or accident, and the payment OF funeral
benefits in the case of death.
1t is not in any way, shape, or form a
charity, but mutual benefit insurance So
ciety. II they subsequently obtain an en-
dowed bed or a room in hospital, and a
sick member of the society has to go there.
she does not go charity patient, called
upon to be thankful; she goes there getting
only what she has paid for.
Her membership fee and monthly dues
have been received by the managers of the
society, and invested for her to meet the
demands of just such dark days Nor Is
she under any obligation to the society it
erntRex
will ever receive.
No bazaars, fairs, or pay entertainments
will ever be allowed to be given for the
Nurses United Aid Society. They are not
formed for the purpose Of asking dona-
tions, but as a mutual insurance society.
And like other insurance societies, an ex-
animation by and certificate from ply
stefan are requisite.
A trained nurse under fifty years OF
age and in good standing holding GER
tifcate or diploma showing not less than
two years training in a hospital, is eligi-
BILE for membership. Applications for
membership must be presented on forms
which will be furnished on application to
the secretary. Before the books were open
there was waiting list" The initiation
fee is So the dues are light and are ar
ranged on sliding scale upward. nurse
of twenty-five of course paying less than
one of fifty.
In addition to the sick benefit and fun
eral fund, the society aims to secure by
means of cooperation and combination,
certain substantial benefits for its MEM
bers, such as homes of rest, pecuniary
loans, in case of temporary distress, q
sickness fund, endowment beds and event.
ually pensions.
At present they agree to provide So per
week for six weeks in any one year in
case of sickness prior to the age Of sixty
FIVE, together with $50 at death. 1t is
hoped that when members do not ask for
any benefit during five years, that some
what larger sum ear BE- given in ease II
need during the subsequent five years.
Anyone interested in trained nurses may
become an associate member tnon-partiei-
pating). life membership costs 500.
The society had no precedents upon
which to base its present estimate OF
| monthly dues. In consequence OF this. it
| is possible that a trial may force them
| to be raised. On the other hand, if they
are found more than adequate, the So
ciety Will be able to grant larger benefits
| than those promised.
All further particulars will be furnished
| by addressing Secretary, Trained Nurses
| United Aid Society, 10 West Forty second
Street, New York city, n. Y.