The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1917-11-09
HOSPITAL TO
ENLARGE ITS
NURSE SCHOOL
Need For More Nurses For
War Duty Meets Response
By Trustees.
(contrlbuted.)

lally increase the enrolment N 1tS
training school for nurses.
Hospitals all over the country are
taking in as many pupils as they can
accommodate in order to replace as
quickly as possible the large number
Of nurses who have gone abroad with
the Red Cross base hospitals and TO
provide reserve on which to draw as
the need for more nurses develops
To those not acquainted with the sit
uation, it. seems that beginning now
on a three years course Of training is
a rather poor way to meet a present
emergency, but while the nurses en-
tering at this time will not be gradu-
ated for three years they will begin to
relieve the shortage IN much less
time for before they have finished
their training they will be able to re-
lease graduate nurses from many hos
pital positions so that the number
available for war service will begin
to increase within year and will In
crease progressively during the three
year period. The nurses entering
training at this time would also be
available for work under the direc-
ton of graduate nurses, in the large
conyalescent hospitals being built
IU6 COuuIlJJ IL L4O oOO0 w
came very urgent
About fifteen thousand nurses have
already been enrolled by the Ameri-
can Red Cross. Many Of these have
volunteered for war service and two
thousand are now in the hospitals in
Europe. The number Of nurses al
ready enrolled is adequate to care for
an army of million and half and as
no innrnSinO q
the rate of one thousand month, the
present needs are fully provided for.
The problem confronting the nurs-
ing profession and the hospitals is
that of providing constant supply
Of nurses to meet the increasing needs
of the military hospitals as the size Of
our forces is increased and at the
same time provide for the necessary
care of the civilian population.
Miss Jane A Delano, chairman OF
the National Committee on Nursing
Service of the American Red Cross,
recently issued the following state
ment in regard to the situation: ut
is Of the greatest importance that
able and educated young women
should be urged to enter the regular
training schools and take the usual
course in order to fit themselves fully
for nursing.
'While our present needs are being
met, the burden Of the war will in
crease rapidly. 1t is highly desirable
that the ablest, most experienced
nurses should be released Tor service
behind the lines, and constant sup
ply of younger nurses, thoroughly
trained, will allow these older women
to leave their posts in this country
without danger to our own sick"
"The Red Cross requirements for
nurses have been somewhat modified
in order that, If needed, THOUSANDS OF
additional nurses may be eligible for
enrolment with the American Red
Cross and available for call should
the necessity arise The principal
change contemplated is to reduce the
lower age limit to specially qualified
nurses, and to place on the eligible
list training schools for nurses which
are recommended by State Boards OF
Registration, even though the schools
have daily average of somewhat less
than the required fifty patients.
'Tn order to further increase the
available supply Of nurses, the schools
for nurses giving three year course
may be requested to advance the date
of graduation of pupil-nurses, perhaps
to the end Of the second year OF study.
should the exigencies of war make
such action seem desirable"
s'The national committee is also en-
rolling Public Health Nurses with a
view to protecting them from service
as bedside nurses where their special
training would not be fully utilized. !"
The Wayne County Chapter of the
American Red Cross presented the
question Of increasing the size OF the
training school at recent meeting OF
the board of trustees of the hospital
and the board decided at once that It
was their patriotic duty to train as
many nurses as the facilities of the
hospital would permit and immediate
= " authorized an increase IN the enroll
nent Of the training school. It is felt
that the clinical material Of the hos
pita1 is adequate for the training OF
fifty percent more nurses than are at
present enrolled and if this number OF
applicants can be secured the board IS
prepared to meet the various problems
that will at once arise
The chief difficulty IS that OF hous-
ing the larger number Of nurses as the
nurses home is over-crowded even
with the present enrolment. but vari
Gus plans are being considered and
when the number OF applicants is
known, adequate quarters will be pro-
vided for them. Another important
problem will be TO meet the added ex-
pense as the hospital has been operat-
ing without profit with the present
number of nurses and while the ir-
crease IN number will be considerable.
increase the expense, it will be not in
crease the income Of the hospital. The
board feels, however, that under pres
ent conditions its duty is perfectly
clear
or course authorizing an increase
IN the size Of the school only makes
possible the training OF larger mum
Der Of nurses and unless the nurses
can be obtained nothing will be ac-
complished but it is felt that the diff
Guilty will be in making selection
rather than in securing the necessary
number. Young women throughout
the country are realizing that nursing
is by far the most valuable form OF
war service that can be rendered by
women and the fact that compare
lively long period of training is neces-