The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-01
RICHMOND NURSES
\ attend MEETING
Enthusiastic Over National So
ciety for Public Health, Which
Met in Atlantic City.
NEW BRANCH OF RED CROSS
Rural Nursing and Welfare Work
i'll Hotels Described at
Convention.
NEW BRANCH OF RED CROSS

Richmond nurses who have returned
from the first annual convention of
the National Organization for Public
Health Nursing, which has lust been
concluded in Atlantic City, are full OF
enthusiasm for this new association
which has brought cooperation into
the rapidly growing philanthropy of
caring for the public health Espc-
cilly inspiring. they say, were the
accounts by the Red Cross nurses OF
their work in the flood swept districts
of Ohio, whore they saved thousands
from death by exposure and drowning.
The organization was formed in Chi
cago in June, 1912. Its object being To
bring together the numerous organi-
cations of all sorts which are support
ing nurses in public health work The
movement has spread at tremendous
rate during recent years, so that not
only philanthropic societies, but insur-
ances and other business firms. hotels.
and all sorts of other organizations
are keeping nurses In the field. Many
Of them. it was known, lacked informa-
tion and advice, and the national or
ganzation, with siXty-nine subsidiary
societies as members, was formed to
supply this need
The purpose and scope of the or
ganization were strikingly embodied
in the remarks Of Miss Valid the re-
firing president, who was one of the
foremost in forming the organization.
Public Henlth Nursing
Public health nursing has new
ring to it, and inspiration to all who
comprehend the large implications of
the term she said. The nurse no
longer feels herself qualified to care
for people unless she has been trained
TO recognize and report upon symp-
toms other than those of the patient
instruction in measures for protection
and relief in housing, on labor legis-
lation and on school laws, are a neces-
sary part of her equipment And be-
You'd and above all is the personal
and spiritual attitude, and the realiza-
ton that she is not only serving the
individual, but promoting the interests
of collective society. Society needs
her. and needs her inspired needs her
we'll trained. with such training as
was not conceived of before except
perhaps. in the mastermind Of Flor
encc NightenGale"
Miss Fannie +. Clement, who is in
active charge OF the rural nursing ser
vice of the American National RED
count Of this new branch of the great
organization. Although provision for
rural nursing has been organized in
every community in Canada and Eng
land for years, ii is an entirely new
development in this country where
many branches work for health in
the cities. but the suffering In the
country districts. with their inadequate
hygienic equipment. is largely over
looked
The primary aim OF the Red Cross
In establishing a rural nursing ser
vice. Is To bring within reach of the
country jewellers of the United States
the best nursing care" she said. and
To accomplish this end, 1t is believed
that the women who are to do this
work should be organized
I'm order that uniformly high
standard of nursing in the rural dis
tricts may be established and main
tanned. 4 four months course in pub
lie health rulsiRE i. being arranged
by the Red Cross for nurses who wish
TO enter This field. In the organization
of the work the Red Cross intends to
utilize the existing organizations both
for the training OF nurses and main
tanning them In the held. Rural Red
Cross nurses will receive a yearly APP
pontment. and inasmuch as the Red
Cross is in sense a branch of the
War Department. they will work under
this supervision Nurses will be as
signed as far as possible. in accord
ance with their preferences. and will
be paid from $40 to Sl00 per month.
There are over 5000 nurses at present
engaged in the various branches Of
Red Cross nursing. 1t is expected that
a large number of nurses will take up
this rural work.
Hotel Welfare Work.
Miss Mary j. beavers paper on The
Visiting Nurse AS a Hotel Welfare
Worker" was Of unusual interest be-
cause OF the unique character of this
work.
The Astor in New York is a pio-
neer in the movement for welfare work
in hotels. being the only hotel in the
United States that carries on this
work" she said The movement was
started In the fall of 1912 with the
express purpose of increasing the com
fort of the 1000 employees of the hotel.
Radical changes in the sleeping -rooms
of men and maids have been made.
and rest and recreation rooms have
been installed. The problem of food
has been solved after great difficulty
in doing so. special emergency hos
pital has been installed. While 1
treated In this hospital only forty eight
cases In the first month, seven months
later l had ia cases thirtyeight of
them requiring hospital treatment"
Richmond women nurses who at
tended the convention we're: Mrs. J.
Scott Parrish. Mrs. Ellis Talbot. Miss
Augusta Mycr president of the In
structive Visiting Nurse Association;
Misses Johnston. Henninghausen and
Hill (school nurses; Misses Van Or
mcr, L. Black. t. Black. y. j. Minor
tive Visiting Nurse Association