The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-10
TRAINED NURSES IN PARIS.
The French City Having Its First
Experience with Them.
New York Evening Post.

new 1OTk evening 1OSI.
Paris has her first trained nurses. This
is a fact startling enough TO Americans
who have been accustomed 10 the trim,
calm helpfulness of graduate nurses in
their refreshing uniforms back beyond the
memory of the present generation.
1t is interesting to know that charm
ing young girl. English by birth, American
from choice, and now residing in Paris, is
the author of this new and useful lnnOva-
ton, the establishment of a society of
trained nurses in Paris.
Miss Katherine MCLEAN, the young wom-
an in question, during her sojOurn IN the
French capital, has enjoyed the good for
tune of perfect health and, consequently
like many another visitor TO that city, did
not realize that within the confines of the
entire republic there could not be procured
the services of one trained nurse.
a newspaper notice decrying the lack call
ed her attention TO the matter, and deter
mined her TO fill the need.
Miss MCLEAN is and has been for several
years secretary of the Students Club, in
Paris. Realizing that she would nave TO
offer the nurses, did she import them
some sort of guarantee of work, she went
around among the head physicians OF Iaris
and sought TO interest them in the scheme
at first, and predicted the most absolute
failure. Some of the doctors who under
stand the capabilities of the trained nurse
realized that If she were brought 10 Paris,
IL would mean money out of their pockets
Bandaging wound and dressing it, and ali
such attentions given the sick, are done
by the doctor In attendance, no SuCn re-
sponsibility being left TO the French garde
malade, and if some one in charge were to
administer such help II would mean shorter
visits from him and less of them.
From a few physicians Miss MCLEAN met
with every encoura cement. they promising
TO employ, whenever necessary, such WON
en-, should they come TO Paris.
One of the American physicians went so
far as to call a meeting of the fraternity
of "a certain hospital for the purpose of dis
cussing the plan. Miss MCLEAN was in
4 1fr0eaet her IDEAS
| for bringing the nurses from London, hav-
| ing reduced the expenses OF the trip, their
keeping, etc, down TO a minimum All
| that she asked was capital for sustaining
| four nurses for three months.
The scheme seemed nothing more or less
| than a doubtful speculation to many OF
| those present. and the enthusiasm cooled
somewhat when the chairman suggested
| that each physician in favor of the plan
| contribute so much per capita. Nothing
| was agreed upon at the meeting, but two
| days later Miss MCLEAN received notifica-
| ton that committee of the doctors had
been formed, and that she had been APP
| pointed directress, the necessary fund hay
| ing been raised.
| She Immediately cabled an advertisement
| to one of the big London dailies, applying
for experienced certihcated nurses. speak
| ing French and willing to come to Paris
| for the winter. to meet her at ---- Hotel
at IL o'clock the day following the insertion
| In the meantime she started after her
| cable on the night boat. After five days
| she returned TO Paris not only bearing
/ list of those who would come, but with
| the addresses of others in case of emer-
| gency.
| The next step was to find home for the
| nurses, as they were TO come within ter
/ days. After some difficulty fiat was rent
| ed in a quarter of the town most likely &C
| employ them. When the house def
| initely decided upon Miss MCLEAN had sew
| eral thousand circulars printed in French
| and English which were mailed to most
| of the prominent families, acquainting then
| with the expected arrival of the trained
| nurses.
| Little by little the plan gained favor il
| the eyes OF even those who were at frs
| most opposed to the innovation.
| The well-trained English nurses, viii
| their sweet. calm. helpful ways. had not
| been in the city two days before every
| one of them was called out. and Miss Nc
| Clean was obliged to tell others seekins
| the service of her corps that none was a
] liberty. She then Immediately cabled {
| eight of those on the waiting list, ano
| now she has a corps of fifteen, all ready
| for active service
| So great has the work progressed tina
| Miss MCLEAN has been obliged TO secure
| an ambulance, and the service of a ply
| stefan for emergency cases, although il i:
| not her wish 10 establish a hospital