Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-26
TRAINED NURSES GRADUATE
DIPLOMAS CONFERRED UPON MEN,
BEERS OF GARFIELD HOSPITAL CLASS
Address by Surgeon General Stern
Superintendent-The Program.

IN the presence OIL dudltIte "HNh
filled every part of one of the largest ROOMS
at Garfield Hospital the graduating eXer-
cises of the Training School for Nurses
took place yesterday afternoon. The grad
yates were Miss Lillian A. Grissom of Colo
rado the Misses Sarah NJ. Gemmill, Julia
A. Gernand and Rachel A. Maynard OF
Maryland, Mary " Ford of the District OF
Columbia and Clara Staniforth of England
Prizes of handsome character were
awarded to the Misses Gernand and May
nard. The room profusely decorated
with United States flags, plants and roses.
The exercises were opened with prayer by
Rev. A H. Harding. Addresses were de-
livered by Miss G. NJ. Nevins. superintend-
Sternberg U. s. A. The former told some
thing of the history of the trained nurse
movement, what has been accomplished
and what remains to be accomplished
speaking in part as follows:
In the early days of training schools for
nurses, when hospitals eagerly grasped the
idea of having their patients cared Tor IN
the best and most inexpensive manner, out
little thought was given to the woman who
did that work-as to whether she were on
duty eight sixteen hours in the twenty
four. If anything were offered her IN the
way of theoretical teaching, she might. or
might not attend class or lecture, according
to the needs of the hospital wards. But all
this is changed, and good general hospitals
as well.
Much Remains to BE Done.
Though much has been accomplished in
the way of systematic work, we stu feel
that we are only beginning to see the pos
siblitieS of the work which we have chosen
to do. The number of applications in this
school increase steadily More than 500
asked for circulars of information during
the past year. and the number of formal ap-
fro
spite of the change to a three-year currlcu-
lum, which 1t was supposed would material
ly lessen the number.
"a few years ago. we We're confronted py
two pressing questions. With the outpour-
ing OF graduate nurses each year, and their
concentra ton in the large cities, 1t was evil
dent that the supply was exceeding the de-
mand. One Of the questions, therefore. was
how shall more work be provided for grad
uate nurses? The other, how shall skilled
nursing be provided for people who cannot
afford the usual price of the trained nurse!
Just how the first has been answered, it is
a little difficult to say. but the truth is that
never has there been such demand for
nurses in institutions and in private work
during the past year In Washington
the registries have been obliged to refuse
calls constantly, and the same Is true OF
other cities.
LAS to the second problem: A plan
suggested, in substance as follows: That In
dividual nurses or groups of nurses of sur
ficent enterprise for starting such work
should call on all the GOcldS WltIlill Il Cd
sonable radius of their headquarters and
state that they would take care of patients
by the hour, by the night or by the half
day They should, in fact, become visiting
nurses but visiting nurses not employed by
society paying them a salary, to visit the
poor. but visiting nurses employed by the
doctor to take care of patients able to pay
the nurse for services rendered.
This system of nursing seemed feasible
on paper, but the question was, would II
work? Was it a practicable scheme? The
first nurse to carry this plan into effect was.
l believe, in Rochester, n. Y. She gradually
succeeded, a number of others quickly fol-
lowed and now there are visiting nurses i'll
most of the cities, and the system Will I'M
doubtedly become popular when 1t IS better
known. One nurse whom l know in Baltl-
more has more than she can do, and likes it
much better than the ordinary private duty.
In the District.
at is a pleasure to be able to state that
district nursing has at last been established
in Washington. Two or three interested
women secured funds sufficient to make a
beginning in the end of February. and The
Instructive Visiting Nurse Society was
formed. A nurse was engaged, and the AS
ISOLATED Charities gladly offered the use of a
room in their building for the nurses head
quarters, where the necessary supplies are
kept for her use among the patients one
hundred and seventy-six visits were mace
during the first month"; and the physician
nurse is most beneficial to the poor ana
helpful to the physician enabling him to do
more efficient work, and oftentmeS to rem
der service which. unaided by nurse, ne
would have been unable to perform The
management hoped to be able to place a
second nurse In the field before the hot
weather began. Their hopes are more than
realized, since four nurses are already at
work in as many districts. and the fifth is
soon to be established. Each nurse costs
the society about $500 per year this sum IN
GLIDING salary board, lodging, laundry, uni
form car fares and supplies. Less than
this sum covers the expense If the linen.
utensils etc. are donated in sufficient
amounts.
lished in this school two prizes were offered
one to the nurse holding the highest mark
in her theoretical examination and the other
to the nurse who was most capable in her
practical work I have great pleasure In
announcing that out of possible 100 in ten
studies an average of 81 per cent was made
by Miss Julia A. Gerfand. She therefore
wins the first prize
For the best practical work. for faithful
compliance with the rules of the school. for
exceeding conscientiousness In the use of all
hospital supplies. and, above all, for devoted
care to her patients. the second prize goes
to Miss Rachel A. Maynard"
The diplomas We're presented to the mem
bers Of the graduating class by Mrs. Har-
Supreme Court of the United States, Justice
Harlan, who had been requested to perform
the duty, having been prevented from at
tending.
NINTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION.
The Capital Camera Clubs Display to