The Washington times., 1914-09-04
BY MISS ABBIE ROBERTS.

BY MISS ABBIE ROBERTS.
The visiting nurse has for a long
time been a familiar figure in the
poorer districts Of our large cities.
where she visits the homes not only
TO give skilled nursing care to the
sick, but to teach lessons of right
living and hygiene. In fact, perhaps
the most important part of her work
is that of conserving health.
Although in the carly days of Wis
iting nursing her field was limited
10 the actual care of the sick. grad
ually her field OF usefulness was eN-
tenoed as it became evident that
both by training and her peculiar
relationship to the people she was
the one best fitted TO bring TO them
knowledge Of health and prevention
of disease.
We now have school nurses. tu-
berC ulosis nurses. infant welfare
nurses. industrial nurses. and find
the visiting nurse taking an active
part in all forms of public health
work.
We have in the United States be-
tween 900 and ZOO visiting nurses,
but they are Tor the most part en-
ployed in our large cities, although
tricts stand in greater need of her
service, removed as they so fire.
quently are from: hospitals and dis
pensaries.
Rural Nursing.
In order ths: the need for visit
ing nursing in the rural districts Of
the United States might be better
met. the American Red Cross estab-
lished the town and country nursing
service N November, 1918. This new
service was made possible by a gift
nf sl0O GO from Jacob Schiff. of New
YORK, TO be us-d as an endowment
and by an annuity of $3.50 from
Mrs. Whitelaw Reid, who is chair
man of the committee in charge of
this particular branch Of Red Cross
activity.
Through its town and country MRS
ing service, the Red Cross stands
ready to assist local committees in
the organization and development Of
visiting nursing.
Realizing the need for the very
best nurses for rural districts, where
the responsibility OF the nurse is
necessarily great, the Red Cross has
placed a high standard for its visit
ing nurses. In addition to a good
hospital training. nurses are required
to have special training or expert
ence in visiting nursing and social
service work.
Loan Fund
To make ii possible for nurses who
have not had this training to prepare
for appointment 10 the town and
country nursing service. the Red
Cross has brought about the estab-
lishment of several courses in con-
nection with city visiting nurse as
sociatiOns. This experience with
city association is supplemented by a
month spent in a rural district before
nurse is assigned to a community
of her own. To assist nurses 10 take
this training. the Red Cross has es-
tablished a loan fund for those who
might otherwise for financial rea-
sons be unable TO avail themselves Of
this opportunity.
The community engaging a Red
Cross visiting nurse is expected TO
provide the salary The Red cross
meets the expense Of assistance in
organization and in general super
vision Of its nurses. An organiza-
ton wishing a Red Cross visiting
nurse affiliates with the town and
country nursing service thereby
agreeing to certain definite regul3-
tions deemed necessary by the Red
Cross for the welfare Of the work
Highest Efficiency Demanded.
It hopes in this way TO bring iso-
lated nurses into one large national
body in order that they may have