Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-05-12

"That no human being shall suffer
unattended or die neglected in any
nook or corner of Providence" This
sentence has been adopted as the slo-
gan Of the District Nursing associa-
tion Of Providence, R. /.
Suppose the limitation of area were
stricken from the slogan, and it read
That no human being shall suffer un-
attended or die neglected in any part
of the United States" This would in
deed be a splendid resolve and one that
would stir the imagination and call
forth the help of every man and woman
who has the interests of humanity at
heart.
This is literally the resolve Of those
who are working to make public health
nursing universal in this country and
to bring the ministrations of a district
or visiting nurse within reach of all.
The national organization for public
health nursing, for instance, believes
that the day is not far distant when
the poor shall have nursing care equal
in skill to that given to the rich and
when every sick man, woman or child
can find a friend and a practical help
er in the public health nurse.
This is not by any means an impos'
sibility. 1t is not the dream of Wis
ionarv or the futile wish of an imprac.
teal reformer. 1t is the soundest kind
of common sense from the point OF
view of altruism and economies.
But it is not chiefly as an economic
factor that we want to consider the
public health nurse; it is as a teacher
and a friend of the sick. Education is
the keynote of the better health cam
paign, and the public health nurse is
the teacher who carries into the homes
of the people the instruction that il
necessary to bring about a better stat,
of health for all citizens.
! Physicians recognize that their au
thority does not extend very far beyond
the bedside, but they know that a tact
full visiting nurse can exert a helpful
influence on practically every detail o
household affairs. The public healtl
nurse is the direct agent of the physi
elan and of the local or state govern
ment or of some responsible commit
tee, and she carries the authority o
her office with her. She becomes
lneighborhood oracle in the matter 0
health and hygiene, and she is quote
land consulted and appealed to in wa
which shows that the people anon
whom she works are hungry for infol
nation and eager for help.
This is an opportunity for the grad
uate nurse who would become part o
the big social movements of today, an
twho wants her work to count in tn
general Improvement Of living cond
tons. She has an opportunity to Sc
all phases of life, to come in close cor
tact with people, to assist them in thei
time Of greatest need. She can stud
modern social conditions at close rang
and be among the pioneers in impro'
ing them.
The public health nurse has abul
dant opportunity for self improvemer
and advancement. The community
her special field of investigation, an
1.-THE home is her laboratory. Her wor
lis dignitied by her official position, an
she makes use of all the bureaus an
departments of the city, county
state government with which she
associated, and sumOns to her aid a
, the authority necessary to make hi
work effective. She represents one
the few agencies which preserve healt
as well as prevent sickness.
Unlike the hospital or private nur
}. the public health nurse is not i'll co
e stant attendance upon the sick. II
. round of duties brings her in touC
! with those who are well and wi