El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-28
Kill 81 RattIesnakes.

New York. the work was started by a
private organization, the Visiting
Nurses association. and in 1905 placed
nurses In the field. IN 1906. the force
was increased TO 10. and in 1908 the city
engaged TO pay the salaries OF 40 field
nurses and one superior for the school
work, the service to be part of bu-
reau OF medical inspection OF the de-
paFtment Of health The nursing asso-
citation continued the direction OF the
work until 1910. when the city took
complete charge Ninety field nurses.
six superiors and one superintendent
were engaged in 1915.
Now what great noticeable good has
school nursing done2
An interesting and conclusive com
parison IS that OF the year 1902 and
1910 Tor before and after taking so to
speak, IN New York In 1902. there were
53.S03 children excluded from school
attendance for minor diseases In 1910
II was necessary only to exclude 41S1
children. a difference Of 47772 The
gain in school time alone has more than
offset the expenditure in salaries. To
accomplish this result. the nurses gave
e6,ll6 treatments in the school in 1910
exclusive OF cases Of trachoma and
pediculosis. where instruction and out
SIDE treatments are required. Mere fig
ures can give no idea Of the educational
and social value Of this work It has
meant remedying home conditions, cor
recting unsanitary and unhygienic liv-
ing surroundings, adjusting dietaries.
and rendering the whole home life or
the child safer more wholesome. and
more healthful The educational value
has been profound Where defects al
ready exist. correction is essential and
the awaking of parents to a sense OF
responsibility in this direction has re-
suited in an entirely different mental
attitude towards all OF the children in
the family and a desire TO learn the
ways and methods OF prevention Of such
conditions in the future.
The effect on the children themselves
IS even more marked The influence of
the nurse is shown in greater attention
70 cleanliness, higient. and health So
long as there is no scientific standard
OF school advancement or promotion. no
definite relation Of school progress to
physical defects can be made. but from
the point OF view OF the shild as a
child the results have. clearly shown
that the health standard is definitely
higher even in the short time under
consideration
Its value TO the next generation can
not be doubted. The graduate nurse has
always had the opportunity for educat-
ing her clientele, rich or poor, on health
and social service matters Today she
can fight and open the way for scien-
tlIlo knowledge Each home is a virgin
soil for practical teaching Each time
a nurse enters the home. the power of
the family 10 prevent sickness as well
as to care for the sick should be raised.
Let US trace Johnnie, aged s, who has
been followed to his home by a school
nurse, after card sent by the medical
Inspector for tonsils and adenoids has
been diSregarded- The home shows
three other children and another babv
expected The little brother and sister
are also mouth breathers- The nurses
problem is TO explain to the mother
a n1nnfraTf n II ~
nose and throat condition is and 20 get
her cooperation It is no easy task
assure you The mother may under
stand cleaning up the running nose and
hat running ears may be avoided. but
me may not appreciate the DELAYED de-
-elopment of the body and OF Johnnie
All this education is not accomplished
n one visit but It is usually accom-
,lished finally.
School nursing. believe, is the most
important department OF public health
lursing. The institution of an effective
iystem OF school nursing throughout
he United States OF even adequately
o meet the requirements Of mandatory
medical inspection laws. in several
tates. would require 10000 specialIv
ralned nurses First a school nurse
must be specially trained for this work,
or poor nurses are expensive Her abil-
" TO meet a new situation, her judg-
nent and her personality count her so
'ereent- In the long run her being able
o di1ferentiate between the different
diseases (which is a doctors Job any
low) counts for less than do her ply
ical attractions. TigOr. cordiality, nerv-
us poise, firmness OF Will. personal
harm. quick understanding OF hu-
nan nature. self control. and ability
o present the case in a clear, fOrcefuI
manner, coupled with a winning smile
nd a pleasant voice, are the Qualities
making most for success.
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