Douglas Island news., 1918-05-31
FOR THE WOULD-BE NURSE

"But | want Co scrve my country by nursing thc soldiers In Franco. % ls Che cry of many a young woman vibrant with patriotic desires and the instincts Of the mothers of the race. CT am more interested in helping In Che war than l am tn spending years now learning how Go carn my living after tho war is jyor."
 To answer this appeal for oppor tunlty Co make the romantic sacri- lco on the fields of France is one Of Inc most difficult tasks of chose in- trusted with tho leadership of our nurses present and prospective. lt las not been SO easy to convince
 ,agcr young women that Che oppor-
 unltios to serve their country n
 ,ar are even more plentiful ot home
 han abroad. and that the call or
 luty Co servo at home is gu. e 80.
 imperative as thc call leg fo.,.5a service.
 As the needs O, war ncrcasc. Che more experienced nurses will hc more rapidly withdrawn from their .ivnlan activities. There must be 1thcrs in training, preparing Co take
 heir places. The very fact Of war
 increases tho need for nurses ot. nome at Che same time that it sum- mons thom for service with the.
 roops abroad. Nursing service in. he military hospitals in Che United States is war service just as truly as| hospital work near the front and .t must be recognized as such if we lro adequately to meet the situation hat exists. Miss Dclano, of the Ned Cross Nursing Service, recently leclarcd: or should be unwilling Col sond any nurse Co Europe who ,s not equally willing to accept serv lee at home" There will loo a break down at thc front if we fail to care for troops ot home.
 The woman who begins her nurses training now is rendering national service from tho moment that she takes up her duties, no matter how simple they may be. Her presence in the training school gives ossur- ance of the release of one more nurse. already trained, for other duty. Those who answered thc first call last year are now well along in their training with the end of tho war not yet in sight Even were the fighting Co end tomorrow thcre would stll be prospect of those be- rinninE their training now having tho opportunity Co realize their ann bitlon Co serve abroad. The cum ing of peace win make only more clear Che extent of tho human wreckagc In the countries longest at. war Europe will look Co America for aid even more in thc days of peace to come than in thc present days of war. We cannot respond Go that call unless American women. oven i'm larger numbers, begin now To prepare.
 There is another call for service at home which many women can answer without going Co a school for nurses. Women in their homes may help Co release nurses for thc service that is most needed by learn ing themselves something of Che care of Che sick. The Rcd Cross has two courses for lay women which an arc invited Co take Each consists of 60 series of fifteen lessons. ono on Elc- mcntary Hygiene and Che Homo Care of the Sick and the other on Home Dlctctics. Unnecessary de- mands for Che services of nurse in American homes must bc eliminated os far as possible; thc nation must help Co keep itself in good health. These Red Cross classes are thc means of enabling thousands of women better to prevent sickness at| home and Co care for Che uuwoll Present coalitions demand that tho slightly il must bc attended by members of their family; that thc rcry sick be sent Co hospitals where one nurse can be of service Co many natients. Ladies Homo Journal