Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-04-22
NURSES SHOULD
cherish IDEALS

Address Before North Dakota
Nurses.
The annual address of Miss Bertha
Erdmann was read by Miss Louise
Hoerman of the Bismarck hospital.
1t follows:
Friends: Again we meet upon the
threshold of another year. The past
year has been II of progress in the
field of nursing activities. Every
where members Of the profession are
working hard and striving for the
betterment Of the living conditions OF
the people.
In the rural districts, among the
m%ountaineers, as we'll as in the cities,
large and small, we find manifesto.
tions of the teaching of the gospel OF
healthy living.
One cannot help but he inspired
while reading Of the splendid services
rendered in this and other countries
by nurses under the most trying cir
cumstances and conditions and of the
sacrifices made by them.
Eut it is not until you read the
report of the 1913 convention of the
American association that you fully
realize the magnitude Of this work,
and its far-reaching influences.
It Is an Honor.
Is 1t not, then, an honor and a priv
ilege to he numbered among this ar.
my of workers? What a tremendous
debt we owe to Florence Nightingale,
who led the way for the better class
Of women, and who lived to see 1t
followed by a large band in this coun.
try, as we'll as in her own.
Since the beginning of the work,
it has spread in many directions, far
beyond the dreams of those noble
pioneers who labored under Difficult.
ties OF which we today have no con-
ception, but who ever kept before
them the high ideals in the field of
nursing which falls to us to carry
out. May each one of US bring to
her task the same high spirit of de-
votion.
The North Dakota Nurses associa-
ton has added another chapter to it's
history and accomplished all that was
undertaken at the beginning of the
year..
Reports from the various commit
tees will enlighten you concerning
this work. Through your delegates
representing you at the National as
ISOLATION meeting in Atlantic City
and the annual meeting of the Am
erican Red Cross society in Washing
ton, you have taken your place among
the progressive state associations in
this country.
Another Association.
Another county association has
been called into existence in the
state, through the enthusiasm and in
terest of a few, and all members of
the Barnes County Nurses associa-
ton have applied for membership in
the state association. Let US hope
that more will follow in this exam.
pie.
The association has been accept.
ed into affiliated membership with
the North Dakota Federation of WO
mems Clubs. Through this step for
ward, each individual member as
sumcs new responsibilities and new
privileges.
'e Women With Training.
81 AS women with special training,
we can offer. our help and assist
ance to the Federation in their pub.
lie health work, and thus prove an
important factor in the human up
lift. in the state. Let us respond as
willing workers when called upon by
the Federation, and cheerfully do our
share.
1t is truly gratifying to observe
how the position Of the nurse is be-
coming more and more recognized by
the public. She is becoming a nee
essary factor in the proper care OF
all important diseases. Not only
that, but the nurse is becoming a
very important factor in our social
welfare. and her usefulness is stead
lily enlarging. Society needs her,
needs her trained women, trained as
al not conceivable nor possible be-
fore, except perhaps in the master
mind of Florence Nightingale.
The marvellous growth Of the Ma
tional Organization of Public Health
Nursing is a true manifestation of
the application of this new, yet old.
branch of our profession, i. e., Public
Health Nursing. Think Of all that is
involved in tllese words!
Membership Of 1000.
Although tho organization is not
yet two years old, it has a, member
ship of more than a thousand. repre-
senting about 40 states. As Don as
it's purpose and methods become
known, it will command the widest
interest and sympathy.
North Dakota is not included IN
these 40 states, but ! believe it will
not be last Of the 4S states of the
Union to organize and develop this
field.
In order to gain the most satisfac-
tory results in any community, the
hearty cooperation of the public is
necessary. If this be true, what is
our duty towards the public? How
can we interest them in our work?
We must have the proper attitude TO.
wards it, and the n in which
we perform our tasks will influence
those outside of our ranks. If our
work really inspires us, if we love
and resnect il. others will catch the