The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-02
GRADUATE NURSES
DISCUSS CALLING
Miss McIsaacr Pleads for Organ
ization and for High
Standards.
OWE DUTY TO THEMSELVES
Opportunities in Fight Against
Tuberculosis Depend on
Personal Care.
OWE DUTY TO THEMSELVES

Opportunities responsibilities. organ
tzation and other things appertainins
to their work were discussed yester-
day afternoon by the members of the
Graduate Nurses Association Of Nir-
ginia. now in session in Murphys Ho-
tel, In its eleventh annual conventions
Miss Ethel Smith. of Norfolk, presided
Several set addresses were made and
there was much informal discussion
all tending to tho enlightenment of tho
nurses present. DR.. Douglas Freeman
who was the last speaker on the pro-
gram. and, by the way. one of the only
three men present, spoke intcrcstin gly
on tho fight against tuberculosis. and
took occasion to pay n high compli-
'nent to what he characterized as tho
noblest profession OF all--certainly the
be engaged.
Nurses and Aneptbctics.
The order Of the program was
changed somewhat. and Miss Alice Bru-
ton. anesthetist in the Protestant Hos
pital of Norfolk. spoke on .T'hc Admin
istration Of Anesthetics by Women"
Her opening statement was that the
average practicing physician and hos
pital inferno knows less about the ad-
ADMINISTRATION Of anesthetics than the
trained nurse. and that the latter
10 perform this office preliminary to an
opera alton. Her constant training in this
direction affords her more opportunity
to learn the best methods. teaches her
now TO manage the patient, and gives
her that experience from which she
knows how totreat individual patients
Her favorite method. Miss Bruton
said, was ether dropping. which she
described in technical terms. One Of
l1a 81.
ist. she said, was the exercise OF consid-
erabe tact to get the patients conf
dence on which much depends she
argued against the practice OF some
physicians OF talking at the nurse
during tho administration of the anes-
thetic. saying that It was best 10 let
an experienced nurse administer IT in
her own way. The general discussion,
which followed favored the practice or
permitting trained nurses to administer
ancsthctcs
Advice to Young Nurses
Miss Isabelle McIsaac an earnest wo
man, well versed III her profession
talked on 'Opportunities and Respon-
sibilities or the Young Graduate Nurse =
she said that there are nearly 100
900 trained nurses In the country, and
that they have serious problems Ia
confront. and must, therefore. work in
harmony- She spoke OF the .irst or
ganization, the Association Of SUPER
intendents, founded by Miss Hampton
later known as Mrs Robb. whose
whole heart interest lay III her work
and in the beginning OF young nurses.
Miss Mc1saac spoke strongly Of the
need for system, organization and co :
ordination She referred 10 the fact
that all other great works Of mankind
are he result of correlated effort, and
she pleaded earnestly for the organza :
tlon OF nurses throughout the country
each nurse to become a member OF
her alumnae association and ;hcn join
the Association OF Alumnae. Without
proper organization, she said. 1t was
Impossible 10 effect good work and to
achieve the best results. She took
shots at the commercial trainin e
schools which she said are formed
only for financial results, and the
nurses from which are, as 4 general
thing, not only incompetent. but of a
low moral standard.
Found Incompetence
She told story Of one highly trained
nurse, who went into such hospital to
nurse private case. There she found
utter incompetence. no regulations ar
the nurses without practical or theo-
retical knowledge. She asked one nurse
what text book she used The latter
eNaded an answer. Then she asked
another. one who had but recently en-
tered. The young woman was chewing
gum. On her head was Pile or hair
little Of which was her own, except by
purchase.
II don't know. You can search me,
she flippantly answered the trained
nurse,
1T is such so-called nurses as these
who bring odium sometimes on our
profession" said Miss McIsaac THE
greatest obstacle with which we have
to contend" she said, ''is the nurse
doubtful in efficiency and In character"
She pleaded for State registration,
saying that there should be some stan
dard which would be ecognIaed every
where, something by which the train
cd nurse. as we'll as the public, could
be defended against imposters or in
competentS.