Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-10
EscRlPTlON
 or VISITING suRelNe.
1aovemsnt Was Begun iuats7z and F Haa Experienced Rapid Growth
 Now Over aSThousand Associations

L. Deans, Rs NJ. of Danieison Wzites-as1 follows:
 Through watching England and her 'systenls of Fearing for her stck the Ras-s sI. the United States in 16TGs then the wouanss branch of. the New York CIV Mission employed a nurse to care 1or the sfck In their homes Two years. t1ater the Society for EthlcaI AalflHre1 placed a nurse for similar worfran one of the Mew York .dispensar1es. The movement has grown until now Shere are nearly 1000 visiting nursing asso- sciat1ona with more than 2,500 regular salRried nurses. in addition TO pupA nurses from different hospitals, that in clude visiting work as a. part or bne course of instruction.
 The work may De supported in vari-s o1s ways usually best by voluntary contributions from the publfc h some xnanufacturdnE eSnters and m mln1n8 towns The men employed may agree 10 a deduction of al certain sum weekly or. monthly from their wages towards the cause. Othet possible sources of income are eflfer4ainne or churches may be asked to devote the collection
 of one Sunday iusthe year to the fund. Occasionally Thefstreet HALLWAY conn panias are kind enough To F11n1sn passes for the nurses.
 l Visiting nursing is becoming more finore and more in demand by the tWorkiur classes. many of whom when tsu are unable ts pay the charges of a private nurse. CT who are unwilling to enter a hospital By having skilled ser- iVice for the morning attentions they manage nicely for the rest of the day with what helr the family can render. In every continuity there are some chronic cases who cannot be cared for in the hospital for any length of time and the visiting nurse can do much to NrKA 1Nfr7 hAnnv their homes with their families about them. Right here it might be stated that in connection with every associa- ton 1t is necessary to have a loan and supply room containing articles which
 may be used tor the comfort of the in valid, also drugs and supplies used in treatments given by the nurse by order of the doctoR A supply of clothing and babies Rrardrobes is essential
 The functim of the visiting nurse is
 three-fold: She is nurse. teacher and inspector. Aside from daily visiting are taught he necessity of cleanliness, fresh air and nour1shing food; the simpler msthods of nursing, giving baths, mailing beds, preparing foods, care and feeding of children, how to properly vsntilate room, also how to take sanitary precautions against fu- ture illness. She works to keep up the health standard of the town, or if in a city, the district to which she is as- signed. and searches out unwholesome conditions that menace health, report ing then 10 the board of health, who with thelaw behind it can compel inn tproVemeat of existing conditions.
 The nurse is on the alert to discover cases o1 sickness requiring her care. Gases are often reported by clergymen, social workers, neighbors and friends of the tick. In the beginning it was
 IL. -..1L.A
 Spond 10 any call without a written requestor phone order from a doctor; but as inc work has broadened this re- strictio3 has lessened. Now it Is as apt to De the nurse who influences the sick ors to call the doctor as 1t is the doctor who secures the nurse. Owing to the fact that social investigation many times falls upon the nurse, it is important that she be familiar with the state institutions, charitable Organiza- tions and churches to which she can turn 1ar assistance Not tnfreQuently she finds work for the unemployed.
 It is obvious that the same nurse cannd attend both contagious and non contagious diseases For the former, printsd leaflets may be distributed with instructions in regard to asolat- ing and caring for the patient, disin- 1ectirg the clothing and dishes, and fumi eating the room. Some district nursing associations appoint an extra nurse for contagious work. Tubercu- losis is a home problem and the work mostly instructive or preventive, which lnustbe carried cn in the homes where the disease occurs. The patients are taught what to eat put out of doors to sleep and instructed in methods of pre- venting infection to others in the fam ilys When possible they are sent to day camps or sanatoriuns.
 While it is intended that the ser- vices of the nurse shall be free at all times to those unafde to pay, the move ment has not the phuperizing tendency to lower the self respect of the reeirE- ent and fees average from i've to fifty cents a call. The fees received are turned into the treasury of the asso- citation or used for a relief fund.
 There is a great difference of opinion regarding the valle of uniform in visiting nursing, Sd this matter is left in the hands of tie different associa- tons. Usually the uniform consists of a shirtwaist suit od dark blue g1ngham or linen with long coat of the same color and a simple sailor -like hat The uniform is easily recognized and in cities many times proves a protection for these in a. certain amount of re- spect that even the lowest invo1untaTi- ly pay to the woman who wears the uniform of a nurSes
 Tn some cities there is central house. where the superintendent and the entire staff of nurses live. On the other hand, there are cities and towns where the nurses live where they please Salaries range from $45 to s100 per month, inEluding carfare, de- pending of course upon whether room and board are furnished with the sal ary. The nurses are entitled to one half holiday each week and a months vacation each veal, with salary. It is generally arranged to attend only emergency cases at night and on Sun- day. The larger associations employ nurses who attenf to night calls only.
 As time goes oi, visiting nursing is being divided into many branches. The trained nurse in the. public schools supplements in tie home the work of the medical inspector. A list of all
 children sent h3me because of ill., health and those In need of specialists treatment is gfvfn to the nurse who visits them and aIranges for the care at home or takef them to the dispen- Sary or clinic. Manufacturers employ nurses who have charge of an emer- gency room andtwfo visit their people and look after their needs. In large stores one or more nurses are kept to attend minor ailments of patrons and employees. Hospitals employ follow up'' nurses to visit discharged patients (Sr1n exk- f.