The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-12

The activities in the nursing field
in North Dakota have been exceed
ingly interesting during the past few
years, says Bertha Erdmann, r. N,
director of courses for nurses, Univer-
sity of N. D. Three years ago last
October a few loyal members" of
the profession met and organized the
Grand Forks County Graduate Nurses
association; the first nursing organiza-
ton in the state. Although of not a
large membership, it's influence was
soon felt everywhere. It was and still
is a means of uniting the graduates
from the different schools of this and
other countries for the purpose of the
advancement Of all interests that per-
tain to the betterment of the nursing
profession, the furtherance of the eff
1cient care of the sick and the mu-
tual benefit of it's members"
Shortly after it's organization, the
association became affiliated with the
Associated Alumnae of the United
States-now known as the American
Nurses association.
One year g the association as
sumed full responsibility Of its reg
istry (Which had heretofore been To-
Gated at one Of the local hospitals)
and placed it under the immediate
charge Of a graduate nurse. This ven-
ture proved successful as the follow
ing figures of the first years report
will show. Local calls for nurses, 1877;
out of town calls, 106; total, 240; 1914
Of these were supplied, but 46 could
not be, because there were no nurses
on the register. Accurate records of
all calls are kept by the registrar
when the nurses are Sin" or "out";
when they report I'm and "go out"
and where. These records are open
for inspection to every member and
others interested. It is needless 20
speak OF the benefit of this system
to the community, nurse n physi-
Gains. They (the physicians) fully ap-
preciate the registry, for they can
now secure the services of a thorough
ly competent nurse in a few moments
instead of spending an hour or more
locating her.
The membership of the association
now numbers thirty.
In May, 1911, a committee from
the local association visited Fargo
and assisted in the organization Of
the Cass County Graduate Nurses
association. This now has a member
ship OF fifty-one, a club house and reg
istry, and looks forward to the close
Of a most successful year.
At the November meeting of the
Grand Forks County association a
committee for state association work
was appointed, consisting of Mae Nc
L TS..YIz..l AHS--~so II nyr.,yraw, -
Bertha Erdmann, r. N, (chairman).
This committee began work at once,
and with the assistance OF N. G..
Abbott of the university extension de-
partment, the state was divided into
seven districts, with headquarters at
Minot, Devils Lake, Grand Forks,
Dickinson, Bismarck, jamestown and
Fargo. These districts consist Of
from four to ten counties each. The
following nurses were appointed as
members of the state association:
First district, Eva Knox, r. N; sec
ond, Mildred Clark, r. NJ; third, Ber-
tina Erdmann; fifth, Louise Herman;
sixth. Maud Sides, r. NJ; seventh,
Emily Scripture. r. N. Elizabeth Bar
tie and Celia Scriber. 1t is interest
ing to note that five Of the members
Of this committee are registered
nurses, that they represent six states
and Canada and eleven training
schools.
The fifth district was the first To
organize a district association. This
occurred Jan. IL. In the other districts
the workers are busy locating the
graduates.
The committee is planning K
launch the state association In April
the meeting to be held at state head.
quarters, Grand Forks. The next steI
will be the organization Of Red Cross
Nursing service. Nurses enrolling fol
Red Cross service must be members o
a nursing organization, either alumni
il county or state. In cases of caiam
tiles in North Dakota thereafter, tn,
state will have its own Red Cros
nurses to respond to the call.
Registration for nurses, which nov
exist in twenty-nine states OF til
union, is being discussed among physi
clans and nurses in North Dakota