The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-10
SEPARATE BUILDINGS
FOR ASYLUM NURSES
Innovation Will Practically Drive
Male Nurses From the State
Institutions.
Speoial to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
St. Peter, Mimi, June 9.-Nursing
methods in the Minnesota state hos
pitfalls for the insane are to be revolu- j
tionized by the erection Of dormitories
for the use of female employees. This
will mark the practical disappearance
of the male nurse from the sick wards
Of the various institutions and will also
greatly reduce the number of male at
PENDANTS engaged in other branches Of
hospital work: Two of the dormitor
les, those at the st. Peter and Fergus
Fails state hospitals, are to be built
this summer, and the institutions at
Rochester, Anoka and Hastings will be
similarly provided for within q few
years.
Attic the training schools maintained
at Rochester, Fergus Falls and St.
nurses who are in every way qualified
for the duties of their profession, it is
an admitted fact that the state has
been very slow to adopt the plan Of
having women care for male patients
a practice that is universal in gen.
eral hospitals.
Seemingly, the views Of the surgeons
in charge have not conceded with
those of the critic who declared that it
was as impossible to make a good nurse
out of man as to make a good doctor
out Of a woman, but it may be said that
the failure to keep abreast Of this par
ticular phase of hospital development
appreciation of the good points Of the
system, as to want of facilities for put
ting the plan into operation.
Need of Separate Buildings.
Under conditions as they now exist,
it is impossible to utilize the SERVICES
of women in caring for the mentally
afflicted, other than those Of their own
sex. Despite the fact that enormous
appropriations have been made for new
buildings, and all of the institutions
have been vastly increased in size, pro
vision has never been made for dormi-
tories, and the crowded state Of the
hospitals has prevented the setting
aside Of suitable quarters for the female
nurses.
For years there has been a. crying
need for separate buildings, where the
women engaged in the arduous work of
nursing might receive their friends and
ial surroundings, and where they might
escape the sights and sounds Of their
daily work. One Of the pioneers in
the movement to secure them better
quarters was Dr. A. II. Tomlinson, super
intendent Of the st. Peter hospital 4
dozen years ago he began recommend
ing the construction Of permanent dor
tendents Of otRer institntions, ant
when the state board of control was
created it's members were impressed
with the Importance of the suggestion
Site at St. Peter Selected.
Practically every one of their reports
have urged the expenditure Of money
for this purpose and at the last session
/ of the legislature two Of the hospital
were given appropriations, St. Peter re
5 ceiving $4,000 and Fergus Falls $75,
900. These funds do not become avail
able until August 1, but a site ha
already been selected for the buildin!
to go up here and Superintendent
- Tomlinson believes that it will be pos
81 sible to have it in readiness for occu
q paney by Jan. !.
When it Is turned over to the wome1
they will be. placed in charge Of all tn
infrmaries and sick wards in which
male patients are now cared for, AM
their work will be brought to the sam,
plane as that of their sisters in genera
hospitals. In the main building, wher
Il fully half Of the patients are men, the
will have complete control, and the ney
arrangement will mean that more wor.
will be furnished female nurses, wit
consequent decrease in the number o
male nurses employed.
In the hospital here IS women an,
As men care for the 91O patients, bu
the proposed plan would increase tn
number of women to rs and reduce tn
number Of men to rs, a decrease in tn
latter case Of nearly so per cent.
4 & Z q + 3 : e