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

appointment has been granted. with the
understanding that the nurse later OBTAIN
what further training might De necessary
in order to fully meet the requirements.
Then, again, Vim one or two instances.
nurses who were eligible for appointment,
yet being so situated as not 10 De ao1e to
serve for any definite time, nave been as
signed to positions as substitutes. The
total number of nurses in the Town and
Country Nursing Service on duty Novem-
Der 80 1916. was &C. an increase of 2 dur
ing the year.
In addition TO the appointment of new
members seven Red Cross visiting nurses
have been transferred from one COMMUNE
ty to another .Twenty-four nurses have
resigned or temporarily discontinued with
the Town and Country Nursing Service.
400. Substitutes-Rather than at
tempt to supply substitutes for nurses
during their annual leave as formerly.
the Red Cross this year asked affiliated
organizations to find their own substitutes
where possible, requesting that only grad
uate nurses from approved hospitals be
employed. Seven substitute nurses. how
ever were supplied by the Red Cross.
4o4. Supervisory vtstts-This year
SO Supervisory visits have been made to
affiliated organizations. Such visits have
involved on the part of supervising nurses
many meetings with committees and pub
lie officials and addresses before organiza-
tions and mass meetings. Twelve addi-
tional visits were made to communities
to assist in the organization of a visiting
nursing association.
4o5.-Preparatory Courses-Four and
eight months courses have been opened
this year in Cincinnati. Columbus and
Chicago. The establishment Of such
courses closely concerns the development
of the Town and Country Nursing Ser
vice, since applicants for the Service in
many localities still SO far distant
from the few available training centers
as to place special training required by
the Red Cross quite out of reach of many
E~1@
City are among centers now organizing
general courses in public health nursing.
Milwaukee has organized three months
course and several cities, like Pittsburgh
and Detroit, are offering lecture courses
for nurses on public health topics. Seven
teen nurses have entered upon courses
this year. The increased number of
nurses desiring to qualify for Red Cross
service in the eight months courses In
preference to the shorter period of train
ing, is a particularly encoura ging fea-
ture in the development of rural nursing.
Ten nurses now taking eight months
postgraduate courses in Boston. New
York, Philadelphia and Chicago. will be
available for appointment in June.
Every possible opportunity to present
the interests of rural nursing has been uti-
liked and "a talks to nurses meetings. as
well as to nurse training schools, have
been made.
4O6. Loans-The loan fund had been
utilized by eight nurses during the year,
bringing up the total of loans granted for
public health nursing courses to 80. The
Committee on Town and Country Nursing
Service abandoned the granting of schol-
arships soon after the special loan fund
had been established.
4o7. Bulletin-"The Red Cross Visit
ing Nurse has been issued eight times
during the year. So much material of in
terest to nurses and nursing organizations
comes to hand, it has been extremely dim
cult to cOnfne such useful data within a
Loot LOT n i'm Of hull
tin. however, is merely to inform nurses
and nursing organizations of develop
ments in other communities where similar
activities are carried on and in an in
formal way to keep them in closer touch
with the personnel of the Service. Nearly
300 copies of each issue have been sent out
gratuitously. Many requests have come
from outside organizations and individuals
to be placed on the mailing list.
4oS. Library-The travelling library
has been considerably enlarged during the
past year and now contains 10 volumes.
which include l5o classified pamphlets on
logue of the library has recently been
prepared.
40S. Exhibits-The exhibit material
of the Town and Country Nursing Service.
consisting of eight large cabinets portray
ing the activities of a public health nurse
by charts and models, a trunk containing
l3 frames depicting the visiting nurse on
her round of duties, a set of lantern
SlueS- anu Two HlollOIg picture INNS tUu-
e picates) of two reels each, have been in
almost continuous use during the year.
SiXtX-one requests for such material have
been met. but there were nearly 20 re-
quests with which it was impossible to
comply. Advertisement of the exhibit by
the Children's Bureau in their bulletin re-
lating to Baby Week, brought "a re-
quests to the Red Cross. Special effort
was made to introduce the moving picture
films at State nurses meetings during the
effort TO extend interest
rural nursing. Preference in loanng the
film has been granted nurses meetings,
rather than for community purposes.
This is probably the only moving picture
film in existence illustrating the activities
of a rural nurse and demands for it's use
have been so general that several addi-
tional copies of the film might have been
kept in constant circulation. The film was
produced by the Government Exhibit
Board of the Panama-Pacifc Exposition.
the Red Cross meeting share of the eX-
pense and directing the production of the
film.
nurses have recorded ,2S6 cases recev-
ing nursing care and total number of
visits of 1885. OF these visits, approx
mately 81 were school visits, 7fc infant
welfare 2rt prenatal 3ff tuberculosis and
A. sanitary inspection visits. In other
words, 47fo of visits represented bedside
care. 11ft instructive visits, l1Fo social
service visits, 1890 business calls and 1870
unClaSSl1leu VISITS.
An increase in the number Of county
nurses would seem to indicate that county
nursing is proving practical method OF
reaching large areas where the popula-
ton is scattered. At present there are
seven Red Cross visiting nurses employed
for county work. The three county
nurses in Michigan are employed by
County Boards of Supervisors. which have
affiliated with the Red Cross. The area
in these several counties ranges from ~
square miles to 900. Two of the county
nurses are known as County School
Nurses, having supervision of 5000 to 1900
children. While most of the time of the
other county nurses is devoted to SC DOL
work, anti-tuberculosis and infant vel
fare nursing. and sometimes bedside nurs-
ing, is included.
Five Red Cross visiting nurses are en-
ployed in towns of between 5000 and 500
population. covering areas from 20 to 200
square miles. In each instance, while
school nursing is carried on through the
township, a general visiting nurse ser
vice is rendered. principally within a re-
stricted locality
A growing realization of the Importance
of school nursing Is to be noticed in every
section of the country. All but eight Red
Cross visiting nurses engaged in general
community work include school nursing,
aside from the two county school nurses
and one who is employed locally for
school nursing and sanitary inspection.
Considering local work. there is but one
Red Cross visiting nurse employed in a
rural community of less than 500 popua-
ton. Nineteen sections have population
of between 1000 and 5000, and Ii between
5000 and 10000 The visiting areas range
from two square miles in the community