Putnam patriot., 1916-01-14
VISITING NURSE
Ladies Of City Desire to Provide One
for Putnam
Duties Are Many and Good Results Are
Accomplished

1he visiting nurse plan, which has
been so successfully tried in many
cities in the country, was instituted in
1877. Since that time ii has become
widespread and many of the smaller
cities have taken it up with great ben.
fit to the community. Danielson has
one and the report from there is that a
great deal of good is being accomplish.
ed and the borough could not get on
without her.
Putnam ladies have become interest
ed in the plan and are DESTROYS of pro.
curing nurse for this city. They
have made inquiry and investigation
and find that there is broad field here
where a great good to the city might
be accomplished by putting the plan
into effect, ~hich they hope to do in
the near future.
Visiting nursing is becoming more
and more in demand by the working
classes, many of whom when i'll are
unable to pay the charges of private
nurse, or who are unwilling TO enter
hospital. BY having skilled service
for the morning attentions they man
age nicely for the rest of the day with
what help the family can render. In
every community 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
make them comfortable and happy in
their homes with their families about
them. Right here il might be stated
that in connection with every associa.
ton it is necessary to have loan and
supply room containing articles which
may be used for the comfort of the in
valid, also drugs and supplies used in
treatments given by the nurse by order
of the doctors. A supply of clothing
and babies wardrobes Is essential.
The function of the visiting nurse is
three-fold: She is nurse, teacher and
inspector. Aside from daily visiting
and caring for the sick, the families
are taught the necessity Of cleanliness,
fresh air and nourishing food: the SIM
pier methods of puplng, gs.sng baths,
making beds, preparing foods, care
and feeding of children, how 10 prop
erly ventiiate room, also how TO take
sanitary precautions against future ill
ness. She works TO keep up the
health standard OF the town, or II in n
city, the district TO which she is assign
ed, and searches out wholesome con-
diIions that menace health, reporting
them 10 the board of health, who with
the law behind it can compel improve.
ment of existing conditions.
The nurse is on the alert to discover
cases of sickness requiring her care.
Gases are often reported by clergymen,
social workers, neighbors and friends
of the sick. In 1.-THE beginning II was
customary for the nurses not to re-
spond TO any Icall without So written
request or phone order from doctor;
but as the work has broadened this re
striction has lessened. Now il is as
apt to be the nurse who influences the
sick one to call the doctor as it is the
doctor who secures the nurse. Owing
TO the fact that social investigation
msny times falls upon the nurse, it is
important that she be familiar with
the state institutions, charitable organ
izations and churches to which she can
turn for assistance. Not infrequently
she finds work for the unemployed.
1t Is obvious that the same nurse
cannot attend both contagious and
non contagious diseases. For the for
mer, printed leaflets msy be distribut.
ed with instructions in regard to isolat
ing and caring for the patient, disin-
fecting the clothing and dishes, and
fumigating the room. Some district
nursing associations appoint an extra
nurse for contagious work. Tubercu
losis is home problem and the work
mostly instructive or preventive,
which must be carried on in the homes
where the disease occurs. The patients
are taught what to eat, put out of
doors to sleep aud instructed in meth
DDS of preventing infection to Others in
the family. When possible they are
sent to day camps or sanatoriums.
While it Is intended that the SER
Vices of the nurse shall be free at all
times to those unable TO pay, the move
ment has not the pauperizing tenden-
cy to lower the self respect OF the recip
ieht and fees average from five TO fifty
cents call. The fees received are
turned into the treasury OF the asso
citation or used for relief fund.