Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-12
The Need for Nurses.

nurses in this country, in view OF press
ing needs at home. to apply to their
profession the principle of seleotive
CONSUMPTION during the period Of the
war. She advises them not to lose their
heads and throw up the positions IN
which they are of vital service to their
fellow men for the sake of undertaking
work abroad or joining the societies
that are seeking to organize women for
war service.
One of the great home needs Of
America" she said, during the war
will be the need for public health nurs-
ing. The organizations which are en-
gagged in this work, instead Of being
weakened by loss Of membership should
be strengthened to meet the increased
demands which will be made upon
them. Trained and experienced nurses
who are now taking care Of women,
children and tubercular patients in
their homes and in dispensaries can do
no greater work for the country and
for humanity than by remaining on
their jobs
! They must not consider themselves
slackers or feel they are lacking in
patriotism if they stick to their daily
round of duties. On the contrary 1t
would be absolutely wrong for them to
give up their work. and jump at the
first chance which offers for war SER
vice abroad.
Somebody has to take care of the
women and children while the men are
at the front 1t is irrational for those
who take care Of them. and who know
and understand their needs. to fly off
to some other. place and other work
and leave them at the mercy Of mex
perienced workers. We all know that
war breaks down home conditions.
Sickness and poverty follow in its
wake. and there are a thousand and
one ills, which have to be met and
overcome. Who can do this better than
the public health nurse who belongs
to a we'll organized group OF workers
which is able to combat just such con-
ditions?"
, So many specially trained nurses
have responded to the call Of the Red
Cross and other agencies for war nurs-
ing. that heads Of institutions, and the
medical profession everywhere now
view with dismay the possibilities OF
the situation.
Is the dearth of nurses for public
health service destined to be like that
of domestic help in the household?
How long will the "soical butterflles
remain "slackers" while great .field
of service beacons them?
! Can a young woman OF strength
health, and red blood, with no one actu-
ally dependent on her care, shut her
ears to the suffering means Of sick and
injured in hospitals and homes of the
land?
| Girls Of Maine and America. you may
have told yourself and your friends that
YOU are mot adapted to nursing, that
the work is "repulsive" to you; that
main and suffering in others are too
much Of your delicate makeup; tna'
Won NEVER could stand the complaints
and calls of fretful or nervous pa
tent
BUT, dear young lady, do you sup
pose your brother, or sweetheart or
neighbours boy was adapted" to shoot
ing Germans? Do you not suppose the
blood. AMI mud and stencil OF the
trenches are repulsive to him? Do you
suppose the pain and suffering all
around him do not turn his heart SICK!
And do you suppose he accepts the
iron discipline of war without SUD-
dining his own inclinations and person
atty?
One of the highest services OF man
kind is that of ministering to suffering
! DOQ1oS. SuTEcolSs PhS SASAOASS
with what shrinking, heart-sick mlen
/ would humanity now face the world
without them! Who Of US could arpl'
trarily fix the order Of precedence? The
skill of the surgeon saves a life, while
! the physician saves another-if nurses
DO their part with equal skill. and deft'
ness, and patience. and sympathy. and
heaven-sent instructive knowledge OF
what to do and say to hold the soul
and body together while Nature mende
the wound or throws of the invading
disease.
In this noble field the need Of vol
unteers is pressing. Long before those
enrolled today in the nurse-trainins
service are ready for their "R N.s",
the need will have become almost. II
not quite, a tragedy. we fear.
In our overwhelming demand for re.
cruits. for sale Of Liberty Bonds. fol
Red Cross work and funds. for city
gardens. for increased crops. ana for a
thousand ana one other demands 1hci.