New-York tribune., 1902-02-23
HOME FOR NURSES.
THE ATTRACTIVE HOUSE GIVEN TO
BELLEVUE TRAINING SCHOOL
BY MRS. OSBORN.

The Bellevue Training School for Nurses. which
is a beneficiary under the will just probated Of
Mrs Virginia r. Osborn, widow of w. II. Osborn.
was the pioneer in trained nursing in the United
States II was founded, in the face of strong op-
position. in 1879 Mrs Osborn being one OF the
most active forces in its establishment
In 1877 Mrs. Osborn built the house that her VIII
has lust given to the school, arranging it with
special adaptation to its needs. The exterior is
highly attractive in its dignihed simplicity ana
the impression is deepened on entering. The door
is in the middle. in Colonial style, and on the left
side Of the generously proportioned hall Is slttns
ROOM in which entire apartment or ordinary
size might easily be put With its grand piano. ats
fine engravings, it's old fashioned but handsome
furniture the sitting room is full OF delght1ul
suggestions of restful hours. after nara "orA wen
done.
On the other side is a spacious dining room, the
Appointments of which those of refined
home for the women who come there to study are
accustomed to the refnements OF life
IJpstars are the sleeping and such other rooms
as are necessary for the comfort of the esidents'
In ALL the atmosphere of home is nouceaDle' Inc
simple furnishings are invariably tasteful and ap-
propriate and each occupant. whether pupil OF
resident nurse adds such touches OF ihalVluuai
adornment she desires
1t was the success of this school that was con-
demned as impossible and almost indecent by the
medical profession in general that caused the
reformation in hospital methods that mas uis.in-
guished the last twenty-five years Ior otiiei
schools were established IN this ana otheI Si''0'
and nursing was no longer left to unframed ana
ignorant servants The need for intelligent nurses
in the public hospitals first announced by
committee consisting of Mrs. w. II. Osborn chair
man: Mrs Robert Woodwork, secretary; Henry
G. Stebbins treasurer; Mrs. William Preston grimm
Mrs dOremieulx Mrs Joseph Hobson Miss Wool
sey Miss Ellen Collins. Miss Julia Could Or. W.
Gill Wylle and Chandler Robbins
This committee visited all the city and county
hospitals and found that the nurses appointed by
the Commissioners of Charities Were ignorant OF
the most elementary principles of the nursing arr,
and while some We're decent Women, the larger
number were brought from El3tkweIs Island,
where they had been sent as warrants or paupers,
and sometimes prisoners. and many could neither
read nor write. OF course they had no moral IN
huenCe their patients, and the committee was
told that the hospital not place for respect
able woman to visit
one distinguished surgeon said: Il do not be-
Bellevue Hospital The patients general
thing such difficult class To deal with, and
the service is hard, that the conscientious, in
tegent woman you looking for will lose heart
and hope long before the two years over But
the result proved that the most conscientious and
the most Intelligent Of the nurses proved the most
cheerful workers.
Between twenty and thirty graduated
every year. the course of study being two years.
Last year there were more than eighteen hundred
applicato for admission 10 the school.
A graduate OF the school has organized a training
school for nurses in Cuba. under Major Greble the
Cuban commissioner Of charities. Another who
went TO Cuba under the Cuban Orphan Society has
established a hospital and training school Several