The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-16
THE HoME-NURsING BUREAU.
An Institution Differing Somewhat
from Any Indianapolis Charity.

from Any Indianapolis Charity.
The home-nursing bureaus. which. under
various names, have within the last few
years been established. or are being estab-
lished in the large cities of the United
States and Canada, form one of the most
worthy of our many charities. although
the work is carried on in a wholly unosten-
tatious manner, and comparatively few
people know even the nature OF the aid
which it renders. The object OF the bu-
reau is TO furnish TO the sick poor of the
city trained nurses who will so into the
homes and render such aid as is needful,
without compensation from the patient or
his family. II nothing more were said
the enterprise would stand commended.
The work supplements that OF the city
hospital and the city physicians. and oc-
cupies a field hitherto almost untouched
IL recognizes no sect or nationality, but
ministers to any who are too poor 10 pay
for attendance in sickness ana receives
aid for fits maintenance from all who are
in sympathy with it's object The bureau
is made accessible TO all by telephone con-
nection, and any person may send a call
for nurse in any case of need Unless the
need is urgent one of committee goes 10
the home specified and investigates the
conditions before a nurse is sent out. This
is, however. only done in cases reported
by parties unknown 10 the bureau. and
is a needful safeguard against imposition.
Most frequent callers are received from
the city physicians, from settlement work.
ers and from the visitors OF the associated
charities. All physicians whose practice
takes them among the poor, sympathize
heartily with the work, for until these
nurses could be called upon, there were
cases which were utterly hopeless from the
first, simply because there was no one 10
carry but the doctors instructions. and
more depended upon careful nursing than
upon medicines. The doctors, therefore.
gladly avail themselves Of the opportunity
of telephoning for a nurse In such cases.
and in return they hold themselves sub
ject to charity calls in their vicinity.
A dispensary is maintained in some cities
in connection with the home-nursing bu-
reau. Here. poor people, who are recon-
mended by some responsible party, can
come for treatment for the nominal sum OF
5 cents, and even this amount is RENTED
at discretion.
volunteer their services. Young women who
are in a position to earn SIS a week nurs-
ing in pleasant homes, tender their time
and services in the same spirit Of plying
love for the unfortunate that the residents
of our social settlements take up their
work. The nurses receive their board, laun-
dry, car fare and SIS month. In some
cases volunteers who are not trained
nurses, but who show an aptitude for the
work. are taken and given training under
the head nurse and her assistants.
The nurses visit several cases a day.
spending from one to three hours with
each patient. as needed. A part Of their
duty, often. is to instruct the other men,
bers Of the family how to care for the one
who is sick. In cases Of extreme poverty.
food, medicine, clothing and bedding are
provided. Sometimes bed linen and towels
are loaned. In the case OF a sick mother
with small children, place is found for
the children temporarily, either with neigh
bors or in home, or, perhaps, in mis-
sion kindergarten during the day when the
father is away.
Often the battle is not for health alone.
but for fresh air and cleanliness as well.
visit. There is usually no room or bed for
them or accommodations Of any sort. and
their health would be seriously threatened
should they remain in some OF the houses
which they visit. The nature of their work
demands nourishing food and clean sur
roundings. On account Of the house-to-
house visiting no contagious cases can be
taken.
The work in each city is inaugurated by
the personal distribution of circulars.
which usually opens the way for at least
brief explanation of the proposed work.
by addresses given before church and other
societies and by the cooperation OF the
physicians of the city. In some places the
city grants an appropriation to help carry
on some portion Of the work, but IL Is
principally maintained by voluntary con-
tributions either OF single sum OF OF
amounts pledged to be paid weekly or
monthly.
The circular Of one OF these bureaus con-
tains this suggestive paragraph:
when the poorest old house or barn
takes fire TO the touch Of a button engines
and trained men respond and stamp out
the blaze TO save surrounding property:
but men, women and children lie sick. dy-
ing, yes, burning up with the fires OF fever.
but where is the electric button to touch
that needed relief may conner"
This Is the thought that has prompted
the work of the nome nursing bureau
and which explains the mission that IL Is
destined to fill JULIA ID. COWLES-
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