The Mankato free press., 1913-05-09
Work Of Visiting Nurse
Her Manifold Duties
From Tuesday.s Daily.

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From Tuesdays Daily
Tag day as a. means OF secur-
ing funds for the support of a
visiting nurse for this city, as
well as the plan of having such
a nurse, seems to meet with the
approval of the people. In in
terviewing number of promi-
nent business men, of Mankato
yesterday not one expressed
himself as opposed to the, plan.
The statements of some of the
men interviewed, are given here
Clement Schroeder: Il ap-
prove OF this plan if the nurse
works Under the supervision of
the women's benevolent socie-
ties, and there are several of
these in the city. The ladies
are best qualified to know where
such work is needed"
]. r. Brandrup: 81 think this
is one of the best things the
women's clubs of Mankato have
ever undertaken"
Fred w. Kruse: 81 heartily
approve of the plan. 1t is a
good thing to try having such a
nurse in the city and there is
chance for some good work"
George e. Brett: 81 think
that this is a fine idea and
should be well supported. |
think such nurse is needed
here"
w. W. Davis: 81 think this
plan should work well in Man
kato. The city needs a visiting
nurse and the plan of having
Tag day is good way to make
it possible. 1t has been done
successfully in other cities and
should be successful here"
Attorney William f. Hughes:
81 thoroughly approve of the
plan"
Postmaster A. J. Veigel said:
when Tag day, to raise money
to employ a visiting nurse. was
first proposed. ! had but vague
idea of the duties of such nurs-
es and the benefit they can con-
fer upon a community. Bit
after reading several articles i'm
magazines on this subject, and
seeing several letters from
neighboring cities where such
nurses are employed, am sat
isfied that they are doing
great work, and that Mankato
should by all means have one
of the best visiting nurses to be
procured. Their work is not so
much charity work, as it is to
give instructions on right liv-
ing, and the cure and prevention
of disease. They are therefore
direct benefit to all the people
in community and should be
supported at public expense. |
sincerely hope Tag day will be
a big success, and that the pub
lie spirited ladies back of it will
realize at least $1,000
Probably no other philanthropi
worker makes so direct an appea
Ilike to rich and poor as does th
isiting nurse.
While to visit the sick has alway
cen an important part of the re
gious mans duty, and has beer
ractised by bodies of men and b.
for many centuries, it j
My within the last half centur
hat the profession of nursing ha
ecomc an essential part of ciyiliza
ion, and the visiting nurse, as on
nows her, has come into being.
In the large cities, she may b,
cen going about at almost any hou
f the day or night, in all kinds Q
feather, and in the darkest ant
irtiest streets. Streets that ar
dangerous to other people, are pei
ectly safe to her. Doors that ar
losed to every one else, are. openc,
uiCkly to her knock.
The visiting nurse gives the bes
'art of her life caring for the poo
ick in their homes. instructing then
n the laws of hygiene and santa
ion. and assisting in roofing GU
nd destroying the unwholesom
onditions which cause the spreat
[ disease.
Function of Nurse.
The function of the visiting nurs,
5 threefold. She is at once nurse
eacher and inspector. Into tn,
ONES of the poor she brings th
efinite knowledge and the trainet
kill which the high-salaried nurs
n private practice brings into th'
omes of the rich. But as visitin,
urse, it is not enough that sh,
hould use her skill and trainin;
or her patients alone. Much O
TRat she knows, she must teach I,
he other members of the family
nd without presuming upon the con
dence reposed in her as nurse, sh,
aust see and report to the authori
les every unwholesome condition
hat may become a menace to pub
c health.
1t was in 1877 that the first syste
latic trained nursing for the poo
n theigE homes was undertaken b.
he woman's branch of the New
,ork City Mission society. At tha
ime the motive was purely pei
onal and philanthropic. The kind