Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-23

OMAHA, Feb. H.-To the Editor Of The |
Bee: The daily criticism upor her short
comings the deep and widespread dissat-
isfaction felt at the lack Of thoroughness 1
in the work Of the nurse has led me to
ask myself the reason why. l hear on all
sides 'Inefhciency, supernciality and lack
| Of thoroughness"
Where is the difficulty?
| I ask the public to be kinder to the
nurse herself by inquiring into the causes /
that bring down such appellations upon
her head.
! Suppose we inquire regarding the hos
/ pitfalls and the training schools from which |
they say they hold a diploma.
Those who give thought to this subject
know that there the first responsibility |
/ lies The hospitals are entirely responsible
for the class of women they graduate as
nurses The so-called training schools OF
( the hospitals in the city Of Omaha are
graduating women as nurses who could
not possibly pass the state examination of
those states wherein the state registration
law is in effect. and they are neighboring
states, too.
| 1t behooves the state of Nebraska to fall
in lire, but II can never do so as long as
the present standard of nursing continues
! and that standard is due to the medical
profession who are willing TO accept the
services Of so-called trained nurses.
In the hospitals of this city surgery is
the predominant feature. The women be-
come proficient in the technique of the
operating room, but they absolutely lack
the technique of the sick room. They can
not even give bath intelligentiy; they
appreciate nothing of the necessity of
smallest details, delicate considerations
and gentle, refined thoughtfulness Nor is
: the value of time or Of order or of method
or OF discipline taught; professional at
! titude is not recognized Nursing ethics
is not included in the lecture course. Doubt
/ less one will find classes and lectures. but
no effort is being made to overcome the
very general ignorance and helplessness in
branch Of knowledge that from time i'm
| memorial has been supposed to be a
woman's stronghold-that Of household
economics.
Such conditions existing in the present
e hospitals have aroused a righteous anger
Y amongst those who appreciate absolutely
$ the seriousness and responsibility OF their
s profession, and such an abuse Of II is in
d excusable The individual responsibility of
= a man or woman holding a position at the
l. head of a hospital a training school
lis overwhelmingly great. Conditions in
n these schools should be such that the
women of broad general education. Gull
e ture and refinement would be willing to
4 enter for training. 1t is as much what a
nurse Is individually as what she can do.
; ''The demands Of modern medicine and
r surgery require that a nurse be something
| more than a machine to follow the orders
It Of the physician and surgeon 'she must
be a woman OF keen perceptions OF OBJ
servation Of judgment, of an educated
'e mind and OF experience. because the physi-
IL clan depends upon her to furnish the in
formation needed to enable him to give the
| necessary orders" Are the schools OF
Omaha sending forth women possessing
. even one-third OF such requirements? Are
they offering adequate Instructions and OPP
portunities to those whom they have in
training and who in probability would meet
those qualifications-if given the broad,
modern training? contend II is rank
injustice to the woman to let her leave
under the false impression of being a
graduate nurse. No words can express the
injustice of It to the profession OF nursing
Above all. what of the public? Is It to
be the victim OF this inefficiency. super
hciality. lack of thoroughness? Do the
hospitals think for one moment that their
work and duty have ended when they
graduate a nurse?
The Omaha hospitals have much to learn.
II the medical profession and the public
Il Sohlt1ue 10 allow lut pIcscHl Sldhhaio ~
exist it lies with those nurses who have
the love of their profession to come for
ward and demand that their profession be
recognized a profession. demand that
the superintendents OF the hospitals
broaden and improve the existing condi
tons. All work demands a standard by
which to estimate its usefulness and test
tts power. II follows that there should be
an established rule by which the education
Of nurses may be measured. 1t is the duty
OF the graduate nurses In Omaha who ap
preciate this to make that rule. work fol-
and the public understand that there is
and the public understand that there is q
standard of nursing and that you stand FOL
that and refuse to acknowledge any other
Nursing is an art, requiring as hard {
preparation, as exclusive a devotion, a
any painters or seulptor's work. For wha
is the having to deal with dead canvas OF
cold marble compared to the living body
the temple Of Gods spirit? 1t is one OF th'
fine arts. l had almost said the finest Of
the fine arts" N. L. DORSEY.