The Washington herald., 1915-02-26
BY MARY MARSHALL.

of nursing that appeals to many yoHns
women who take up trained nursing
and surely there is enough of this in
the nurses life to rouse the spirits OF
any woman-but there is one good, every
day. prosaic reason why nursing Is
among the best vocations that possibly
could be chosen. And here il is: Nurs-
ing is the most carefully protected voca-
ton for women in the world. That is
what the superintendent of hospitals
declare most emphatiCally; and, come to
think of it. il isn't very far from true
No other class of women have their
health under such constant vigilance as
have the hospital nurses. They are
guarded by risidly kept rules from late
hours. imperfect diet, and inadequate
clothing: from over exertion and ner-
vous strain. If they fall i'll they are
cared for free for a reasonable length
OF time and. although they have in their
course of training in the various wards,
to come in contact with all sorts and
conditions of men and women. the honor.
dignity. and respect of their calling is
always assured.
Even after woman has finished her
course of training in the hospital she is
still carefully protected She is helped
by her hospital in getting employment.
she is assured of a fixed standard of
States from the competition of incom-
petents. Then. too. a nurse can work
as much or little as she chooses
one week or fifty-two out of the year
or she can stop altogether and feel that
when she again steps back she can
command the standard wage. More
over. after she has grown old and is
ready to lay aside her cap for good.
she is. in some cases. provided by the
alumnae association of her hospital
with a pension of s25 a month as long
as she lives.
So much for the protection that
nurses enjoy. The next best thing
about nursing as a profession is that
while it is one of the highest callings
and one that draws recruits from So
ciety's elect-and one of the best paid
of women's professions, the course of
training in most instances costs moth
ing.
In practically all the hospital train
ing schools board, lodging. laundry,
textbooks. and uniforms. after the first
few months. are supplied free. In many
of the largest and best training schools
the services rendered by the pupils in
training are considered amply paid for
by the instruction they receive. but In
others-notably one of the best in this
city-an allowance is given all pupils
who have passed their three or four
months probation period.
With such generous provision scarce
ly any young woman need be kept from
this vocation because of the expense
But, mark you, the wouId-be trained
nurse must be in good health, for
no hospital is willing to burden it.
self with woman whose eyesight,
hearing. and general organic condition Is
not normal. A defective set Of teeth,
or feet. deformed and cramped by tight
shoes. has before now kept an otherwise
eligible candidate out of the hospitaI
training school The minimum age for
entrance is from eighteen to twenty-five
years. and the maximum age is usually
placed at from thirty-two to thirty-five
In some hospitals no educational test
is stipulated. only a general ability to
use good English is expected; but in
many Of the larger hospitals a high
school or equivalent education are in de-
mand and are usually admitted over the
heads of their less learned sisters
"A college education is of course, de-
sirable for a nurse said the superin-
tendent of a large hospital that enjoys
an international reputation. but for my
part l would bet on the girl with a good
home training every time. Especially
when our nurses go out on private cases,
nothing helps them, outside of their
hospital training, so much as home train
ing. They ought to know how much
it costs to run house. how to keep
peace with the maids In the house, how
to share the responsibilities of the homo,
and these are the things that the hospital
teach.
I'VE usually start our probationers Off
in the pantry; went on this hospital
superintendent. There they have to At
out the trays for the patients, and the
young woman who knows without being
told that a half empty sugar bowl, an
untidy salt-cellar or a furnished napkin
ring need to be attended to is the girl
who usually makes a good nurse And
il Is just that sort of alertness, atten-
ton to details. and sense of RESPONSE
bility that a girl learns in her own
home"
Now as to the choice of the hospital
As usual thing. the large city hospitals
are the most thorough in training and
their graduates are more
likely to make successful nurses. How
ever, IL you are not in the vicinity of
a large hospital you might take a two
years training in one of the smaller
hospitals and wind up with q six months
course in one of the ia
nous city institutions. The best person
10 go to for advice In choosing the hos
pital for your training il an experienced
physician. for beyond q doubt 1t Is the
hospital of high professional standing
that you want for your alma mater.
Once having had your application ac-