New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-29
The, Nurses Hone Johns
Hopkins H0spate-1.

have brought new types Of hospitals into
existence for the treatment and study
of special forms of disease. while the
complete Transformation in the care OF
the sick, brought about in the hospitals
by the presence of educated and refined
women. is largely responsible for the
great development Of the private depart
rents Of general hospitals.
Outside Of hospitals nurses are called
into various forms of public health SER
vice such as visiting nursing, public
schools. welfare work of industrial estab-
hshmcuts hospital social service and kin
dred branches: also the army and navy
need them, and our government sends
nurses TO Indian reservations, the Phil
ippines and Panama. In the government
service there is a dearth of good mater
ial.
RAPID INCREASE IN SCHOOLS.
In 1903 there were e35 training schools
for nurses. During the last ten years
there has been an average Of ~ new
schools established yearly, or about one
new school a week. The amount Of cap
ital more or less directly interested In
these enterprises has been conservatively
estimated at 100000
In New York City there is one training
school Building that cost $4,000, and a
second one that cost $4,000. These fig
ures give an idea of the magnitude TO
which this industry or profession has
grown.
The nursing profession is in great need.
therefore, Of more women both for ~
general work and (2 executive positions.
The supply. for several reasons, some
OF them obvious, has not kept up with
the demand
In the United States. prior to 1873,
trained nurses had no existence. During
ths Revolutionary War there were. it is
true, women in the hospitals, but they
were Of q low order of capability judy
Ing by their earnings. In the Journal Of
Congress for october ., 1776, there is
resolution that the wages Of nurses be
augmented 70 81 a week"
The records show that in the Civil War
nursing was LEFT to Sisters Of Charity,
eonvalescent patients and unframed wom-
en-, with a sprinkling Of poets and philos-
ophers."
Trained nurses were for the first time
officially engaged by the United States
government during the Spanish-American
War, but the real movement in this coun-
try began when the Bellevue Hospital
opened a training school in May, 1873.
New York women at that time were
warned a well known nurse states. not
20 engage n high-grade superintendent
because a pauper hospital was no place
for refined. intelligent woman"
A FADING PREJUDICE.
The prejudice against every kind OF
work which Is possible for women is fast
disappearing and many new doors are
open.
But for the highest type Of woman who
has her living to make are the opportunl-
ties 10 be found In other fields OF acting
as numerous and worth while as those
that await her in the nursing profession?
Those who know say that out OF hun
dreds Of graduates a small number only
WIN b. competent 10 direct a hospital and
trs'e.sIg school. Such places can only be
& ~ by picked women, II is said, and
rev outsiders realize the moral. mental
and physical qualifications needed by q
head nurse.
Recognizing the serious equipment
needed for the heads OF training schools.
leading university, at the request OF the
Superintendents' Society, has opened
course OF hospital economies, available
only for graduates OF reliable schools
who have also served a term at private
nursing.
college bred women are almost always
satisfactory" said woman Of long ex-
perience, who has reached the top in her
profession.
They generally enter the profession