The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-09
CALL IT BOYCOTT.
Nurses Say Doctors Are Trying
to Control Prices.
Want Them to Charge $40 a
Week for Services.
THEY FIX PRICE AT S25
DR.. L. Y. Grubbs Makes a
Statement.
Denies That There Has Been
Attempt at Boycott.
HEY FIX PRICE AT s25


of the physicians of. Topeka and the /
graduate nurses.
The differences have. existed for some
time past between the physicians of the
staff at Stormont hospital and the
nurses of the city and particularly those
who have graduated from that institu- /
ton. 1t is the contention of a number
of physicians that the price of SIS a
week exacted by the professional nurses
is too high and that the price should
be modified to suit the case to which |
they are assigned.
The trouble seems to have been pre-
cipitated by a charge of ten dollars a
day which was made by a young wo-
man who nursed in the family of H. a.
Blodgett, 821 Fillmore street. in which |
there was diphtheria. When seen in
reference to the case in question Mr.. |
Blodgett said: 7 cannot see why any |
one should make this matter one Of
their own, as it concerns me and my
family alone The woman came to me
as a professional nurse and handled the |
cases in a skillful manner and nursed
them back to life and health, and do
not consider that I was overcharSed IN |
the least. and I do not see why the nav-
ter should be discussed by the doctors
or anybody else for that matter. She
was faithful in her work and earned J
every cent of her charge. Not only ,
that but she contracted the disease
while nursing my family and was i'll st
my home for some time afterwards.
There has been an organization among
The nurses of Christ hospital for years
and their charge is $25 per week ror /
their services. At Stormont there mas
been no fixed charge but the stan OF |
physicians have always advised tnas
the charge should not be more than 80
per week. especially in cases of conuag-
ious diseases. Just at this time the pro-
position is being agitated by the nurses
of the city of forming an association
and making q uniform charge or 80 Fef
week in all cases except those OF cOh-
tagious diseases.
one of the older graduate nurses who
has been a resident of the city for a
number of years said: I have IN the
past done considerable work on out
side cases for the physicians from Stof-
mont hospital and of late have had no
calls from them excepting when they
were compelled to-ohave my services.
and upon investigating 1 was informed
that my charge of $25s a week was more
than the doctors out there. thought tna1
I should ask and. that I you'd not, be
employed excepting in cases OF sernef-
gencies In the place of employing
Tee11lar. graduate nurses from their own
or other established hospitals, employ
nlent- is given to natural nurses or
those who have had no hospital expert
ence at all. and that on the recommen-
dation of these doctors under Wnon We
have graduated.
Il spent three years of my life in :
hospital to secure my diploma ana re-
ceived for the first year absolutely
nothing. At the end of the second year
received 800 and the third year ] was
in the institution I was allowed $40 a
month for my services, and now tnat
am a graduate nurse these doctors trl-
zs-+ Oh
week for my services, which in many
cases amount to "A hours day OF the
hardest kind Of labor.
This may be right, but to me It
looks as though a grave injustice Is be-
ing done not only to me but all gradu-
ate nurses as well. The work is so
severe that no nurse can work steadlly
at her profession even If she had the
employment. From my salary OF SIS a
week I am compelled to support myself
and family and now number of the
doctors of the city are practically black
listing myself among others because
we will not permit them to say Wnat
our salary shall be.
"Au of the nurses who have gradua-
ted from Christ hospital receive $25
per week for their services and the
physicians on the staff there have no
complaint to make, yet the girls who
spent three years at Stormont to get
their diplocas are asked to do Identical
ly the same work at s. per week less.
she did is no reason why all of US
should be made to suffer and the
nurses as a body feel that great in
justice is being done the profession.
When seen this morning DR.. L Y
Grubbs, who has been president of the
staff of physicians at Stormont hos
pital since It was founded, said
There has been no meeting of the
board of directors of Stormont hos
pital to discuss the question of the
charges to be made by the nurses en-
ployed on cases where we have been
called Three or four of the members
of the staff discussed the matter in
formally few days ago, but it was not
as a meeting of the staff and had no
significance whatever. We feel that
Topeka IS not large enough nor
wealthy enough to justify the uniform
charge of S25 week on all cases by
the nurses and we have advised
against the formation of a trust which
makes 1t obligatory on their part TO
make minimum charge OF so per
week for their services, but this is
matter which rests entirely with them,
and none of them have been black
listed for this reason at all.
I'VE have shown them the prefer
ence in the past as we will continue to
do SO in the future, as we realize the
value of skilled nursing. There have
been cases VIII ere it has been necessary
for us to get along without the services
of a trained nurse where the family
have not felt able to employ one, and
have employed some one of their ac-
quaintance. but these cases are very
rare.
personally, I feel, and I think that
every other physician on our STAFF feels
the same way. that when a nurse is
called on a case where she jeopardizes
her life and health, or is exposed to
contagious diseases. that she should
receive extra salary for her services.
If there has been any trouble between
the physicians of our staff or any
blacklisting done, I have heard Moth
ing of it, and I think that I would be
among the first to receive the informa-
ton
Nicaragnan Assasslnation.