New-York tribune., 1902-03-18
rR4LyED 4ND rNrRALNED NrRsES.

y
What The Philadelphia Medical Journal" re
CARDS as an abuse which calls FOR legislative cor
rection is the Issue OF diplomas 10 nurses after
an inadequate or partial training In the city
Of Brotherly Love there are hospitals devoted
to n single class Of cases. such as cancer. sur
gerry or childrcns diseases. Some of these in
stitutonS. from considerations Of economy cdu-
cate their own nurses. instead of employing
graduates of training schools Of unquestioned
standing However familiar such students may
become with one particular group Of ailments,
Of course they are far from receiving an all
around acquaintance with diseases and with the
propensltieS and needs of iuvalidS. The Mcdi-
cal Journal feels that a double wrong is thus
perpetrated. The welfare Of the sick is impcr
He'd and nurses who are highly qualified suffer
from competition with inferior training Under
these circumstances it IS suggested that the
State should regulate the education of nurses
10 some extent just as il does the practice of
medicine. As outlined by our contemporary
the scheme should possess these three features:
minimum period of service aS student
should be prescribed; only such hospitals as can
afford general course of training should be
allowed 10 maintain schools and State board
alone should have authority to grant diplomas
In behalf Of such policy as this il may be
urged that in critical cases of illness recovery
is often more largely dependent upon nursing
than medication. one of the greatest essentials
to success, with nurse aS with physician is
experience. No amount Of theoretical instruc-
ton. valuable though that he in itself. will
serve the purpose of a wide and varied obscrva-
tion. Nearly all of the best training schools
therefore, require three years service before
granting a diploma. Thus il has come about
that the occupation Of nursing has of late risen
to the dignity Of profession. What is now
known as u trained nurse is one of the most
benchCent products of modern civilization For
that reason it is in the highest degree desirable
that that term should always have a definite
significance.
1t will not do to lose sight of the fact that
there is field of usefulness for nurses whose
training is limited. This IS To be found how
ever, in private families rather than in hospitals
y great many people who are obliged to en-
plOy nurse cannot afford to pay So Il week
for such service. and for that matter. do not
require the highest order of talent. There are
numerous cases in which vigilance serenity
tact and loyalty. combined with Il somewhat
one sided experience in caring for the sick will
meet all requirements. \ nurse thus qualified
will occasionally be recommended by a physi-
elan who understands her limitations. but also
recognizes the difficulty which his patients fam
IiN W III ave III pay IilE Il llGn priced nurse. lie
perceiveS, too, that no serious risk is involved
by the proceeding. Again. there are benevolent
organizations like the Young Women's Chris
tan Association, which provide free lectures on
medicine and nursing, 10 enable deserving peo-
pie to fit themselves for sef-Support SO long
as no certificate is given TO the student though
the practice is free from objection Neither
that nor the custom of recommending nurses
who are competent TO take charge of "A case but
hold no diplomas should be discouraged
So far as we can gather from its argument
The Medical Journal does not protest against
the occasional employment of others than the
best nurses. 1t merely insists that diplomas
shall be given only to those who have had
thorough training. The doctrine is perfectly
sound The possession of such a certificate is
a guarantee of character. temperament. educa-
non and experience, and the document should
na issued with the utmost caution and a high