Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-08
aee. TOWN AND COUNTRY NURS-
ING SERVICE
Report Of Miss Fannie r. Clement,
Superintendent

The development of the Town and
Country Nursing Service the past year
has proceeded very much along the lines
originally mapped out. Many changes in
the personnel of the service have inevi-
tably occurred. yet a healthy and steady
growth is apparent. Although the daily
work of the Red Cross visiting nurse IS
to her so full of dramatic incidents, the
significance of these makes no stirring
appeal to the public at large. In the
words of Mr.. Andrews. Secretary of the
American Association for Labor Legisla-
ton 1T Is more difficult to drama tie
the gradual lowering of vitality of one
half million men than the accidental
snuffing out of the lives of half hun
dred."
However as studies and Investigations
disclose continuously in more certain fig
ures the devastations of disease and ply
steal defect in our human family. the
problem of stirring public sentiment to
the point of utilizing the instruments of
prevention becomes correspondingly SIM
pier. Comparison of the results of such
studies of urban and rural districts show
ing unfavorably against the latter is
leading to a greater remedial effort among
and in behalf of such communities. all of
which increased responsiveness in signifi-
cant terms spells an increasing demand
for the rural nurse
Today, it is not simply for the expert
bedside care for the sick and suffering,
the ready help to the chronic and de-
crepit, or for those who without her min
istrations would suffer discomfort and
neglect that the rural nurse Isl sought.
From the very nature of her preparation
as public health nurse, her familiarity
with disease and its bearing upon the
economic and social status of the family.
the intimate ASSOCIATION possible with
women, children. and the home. equip her
as none other to be the most useful in
strument for improving conditions upon
which health depends To prevent cpl
denies, to reduce the infant death rate. to
make better babies, cleaner homes school,
houses and yards. to clean up the town,
to establish as nearly as possible 1000
records for healthy children, without ply
steal defect, to work hand in hand with
school teachers, health officers. physi-
clans, clergymen. and all social workers
for these and for other reasons is the
rural nurse wanted.
400. Committee-The Committee on
Town and Country Nursing Service has
held two meetings during the year. There
ship, Miss Anne Hervey Strong. who holds
the Chair of Public Health Nursing at
Simmons College. Miss Foley and Miss
Hazard. finding it mpracticable to attend
meetings. resigned from the Committee.
Scattered as the members are. it has been
impossible to expect attendance at fire.
quent meetings. In order that an execu-
tive body might be accessible to the Su-
perintendent, in January the Committee
created a subcommittee on Organization
and Administration. consisting of its
Washington members This subcommittee
was granted power to act on current
business. decisions to be submitted for
ratification at regular meetings of the
main committee. Several meetings of
the subcommittee were held during the
year.
The status of other committees has re-
manned unchanged since the 1915 report
401. Requests for Nurses and AZ
hliations-Since December l. 1915, in
quiries from 1853 communities regarding
the Town and Country Nursing Service
have been received an increase of 81 over
last year. Twenty-three actual requests
for nurses among this number have been
met, while the assignment of nurses is
now pending in A number of communities
ready to establish a nursing service In
three instances the Red Cross has been
unable to supply a nurse at the time she
was wanted. Aff1liation has been discon-
tinued in eight communities, in four in
stances due to the lack of funds. leaving
a total of 50 communities in q states
where Red Cross visiting nurses are sta
toned an increase of 10 affiliations over
last year.
4o2.' Applications from Nurses and
neutrality-suspicious. the actual
number of applications received u71) was
less than the previous year, there have
been more nurses who more generally met
paratively fewer reflections would indi-
cate, and also the fact that 10 more ap-
pointments have been granted this wear
than last. total of Al. If the high stand
ards met by Red Cross visiting nurses. 90
which is primarily due the sound basis
on which the many visiting nursing asso-
Citations have been established. are up
held. the growth OF the Service as a whole
will necessarily be slow.