Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-08

Through Red Cross afiliation with local
organizations, certain stapdards can %
established Regarding qualifications OF the
nurse employed. as well as in the adminis-
tration of the work. to an iextent beyond
the power of any state authority granted
TO date. If state and other large organi-
cations would more generally realize what
the affiliation offers in this respect. the
extension of high visiting nursing stand
ards would be more generally practicable
for rural work.
AS state health insurance systems de-
velop. undoubtedly nursing organizations
will be given opportunity to supply nursing
service to the insured At this time. when
reliable data is so much needed in further
ing plans for health insurance. statistical
material assembled by affiliated organiza-
tions, representing typical groups in many
sections of the country. ought to consti-
tute a valuable contribution to this I'M
portant step in social progress.
The administration of a new form OF
public health education has recently. been
inaugurated by the Southern Sociological
Congress. which has sent out group OF
experts on an extended campaign through
the southern states to stress health con-
servation. Weekly conferences have al
ready been held in several cities In four
states and will be continued elsewhere in
the south until April. The staff of speak
ers includes Director Of Public Health
cial Service. Medical Examination of
Schools. Sanitation and Public Health
Nursing. Miss Florence Besley, the nurse
in charge of the latter department, has
been sent by the Red Cross as it's repre-
sentative. Results already have shown
stimulated interest in the cause of public
health and the formation Of what prom
Uses to be permanent health organizations.
several of which are now arranging to
employ visiting nurses. Public health
nursing is proving to be one of the most
popular and practical subjects of the Con-
greSs.
communities independent of the Red
Cross are doing excellent work. Connec-
ton with national organization. how
ever, interested in nursing problems.
equipped so as to aid organizations and
nurses by personal visits end intimate
correspondence in furthering the best in
terests of public health. must count for
something The words of the first county
nurse in a mid-western state may express
in part the significance of such rela-
tionship: AFTER considering any posi-
BILE aff1liation with the Agricultural Col
lege and State Anti-Tuberculosis Associa-
ton. am convinced the solution of the
rural preventive work in this state is
utilization with the Red Cross. We have
no state or local organization to control
any nursing to be done, whereas the
Town and Country Nursing Service is
practical and established and | feel meets
the conditions. I think the nurses uni
forms and the backing of national
movement will he most valuable to us.
Is it too much to hope that the teaching
of what this Service has meant to the few
will sometime express what it will mean
to the cause of rural nursing in general?
In this connection a Superintendent Of
Nurses employed by state organization
writes: I'm our survey work during the
past year we have met several nurses who
were trained and supervised through the
Red Cross. and everyone of them Is doing
splendid work We are urging all So
cieties contemplating engaging a visiting
nurse to communicate with the Red Cross
first" Such national oreanizatio up
holding only the highest standards for
rural public health nursing. even though
unable to meet completely the general de-
mand for qualified workers. cannot but
WELD an influence resulting eventually In
more and better prepared public health
nurses for this needy fiald.