Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-03
SURVEY OF NURSING
SHOWS BIG SHORTAGE
VI the Small Number Available In
Virginia, 200 Will Soon En-
ter Army Service.
shout TERM IS ILL ADVISED
90 Miss Van Wort Reports After
study OF Various Hospitals OF yir-
shfa and Their Capacity for
Turning Out Trained Nurses.

ouS
ihe war has brought about many
radical changes and innovations, and
mas created unforeseen demands along
widely varying lines of activities. but
!" no profession has tho opportunity
Tor moro far-rcachng service to
humanity come than 10 the nursing pro-
fcsaton Of tho country. To graduate
nurses, inspired by patriotic fervor. the
call to service has come lih that TO tho
Maid OF Orleans. and they havc gono
forth TO redeem their pledge TO the
Rcd Cross and to humanity.
- Virginia. leaders in the nursing
profession have lost 10 time in finding
out tho recruiting strength OF the
nursing profession, and what may be
expected Of the state At this time. Fol-
lowing the example of New York,
survey has just been completed OF the
nursing situation IN the state OF Nir-
gin.a. The survey presents facts and
figures never before tabulatcd In the
Stale. which, but for the cHigcncics OF
The present situation. would possibly
never have becn necessary. Tho stats
tics have been. in some instances.
startling, and on the whole, illuIni-
mating.
SURVEY SHOWS ALARMING
SHORTAGE OF NURSES
This survey read before the eish-
tecnth annual convention OF the
Graduate Nurses Association OF Nir-
sInia held at the Jefferson Hotel Fri
day and Saturday by tho chairman OF
the survey committee. Miss Rosa q.
Van Wort, superintendent OF Stuart Cir
cle Hospital. Richmond, showed the
number OF organizations in the State
concerned with nursing service, and the
number OF persons so employed to be as
follows: accredited hospitals In the
state, thirty-o,Sht: not accredited. ionr-
teen: other Institutions. twcn'y-ave
hubble health organizations. forty-onc
These together with other organ'za-
tions dealing with the training or
nurses brought tho total uD To io3. and
tho number of persons giving nursing
service TO 3.3i1. OF this number, only
e34 were giving nursing service in &C
credited hospitals
Based on tho questionna.res. which
the committee mailed 10 iuescs
throughout tho state. Miss Van Wort
vas able 10 prcscn; further figures
showing that out OF a total OF 1853
there were 1880 graduate nurses IN the
state, o33 registered nurses. ninety
seven not registered, 700 pupii nurses
,ucnt--four trained attendants, seven
,y-one attendants in training. anu -
practical nurses. which number also III
cludes undergraduates.
considering thcs" NUMBER IN re.
iat,on TO the population OF NHsti,a
fas estimated in 1910 when Il was
a.osl.sla)." said Miss Van Wort, we
nnt there arc IA persons per i'ooe
giving nursing service in the state.
of this number. zoo arc alread" en-
rolled in the Rcd Cross and VIII DC
called for war service within !'Ai'eu
tine"
SOr a SUFFICIENT
NUMBER IN TRAINING
Tho survey shows US most piainlS.
went on Miss Van Wort, that We nave
not a sufficient number cf nurses TO
1nse. tho demand. especially as ZOO
or probably more. VIII shortly he call
cd for overseas service. rot counting
those In active duty in the United
States. Young women. PARTICULARLY
those with the advantages OF Sood
education. must hc encouraged TO en-
ter regular hospital training schools.
The fact must be constantly stressed
that their services arc needed in the
terrific struggle confronting US
The advantages OF nursing as
permanent profession must be painted
out We do not desire any knockers
ir the profession. IL a nurse IS not in
harmony with her work. my advice
10 her is TO get out-thc sooner, the
better. l consider II worse than a
crime, at present, for disGruntled
nurse whether she bc "A graduate OF
n pupli. 10 voice any statement which
woula tend to influence IN applicant
against entering school for nursing.
Experience has taught lis that these
dissatisfied nurses are not our repre-.
sentative women. but are those who
are In the profession simply as means
Of livelihood. No matter in what line
OF work they arc engaged. the dis
satisfaction would be evident.
SHORT-TERM COURSES
ARE I'LL ADVISED
The committee on nursing. Council
OF National Defense, believes on the
basis OF its Investigations UP to the
present time that the establishment OF
.hort-tcrm courses n hospitals is at
this time both ill-advised and unncces-
sary. On tho other hand, 4 continuous
supply OF thoroughly trained nurses
must bc maintained. and training
school facilities must be kept unim-
paired for this purpose. as it is the
thoroughly trained nurse not tho
,nakeshifr. who will he needed for home
service well rs those required for
our military forces.
Hospital training sciooI fa-ilitieS,
must he increased in order that the
hopcd-for increase OF pupil nurses may
nc accommodated 1t Will mean nd
ditonal financial burdens for tile hos.
pitfalls. but each and every graduate
nurse by her cooperation can assist
IN this work and can use her inNu-
cnce in obtaining financial assistance
for tho hospitals, SO that the nnccs.
sary reimbursement and extension of
curriculum, housing. teaching staff and
equipment may he provided"
AS loyal and true V.rginianS," con-
cluded Miss Van Wort. and as follow
cT5 OF the greatest women that war
history ever produced, wa ash; Your
help-if necessary. your life blood.-for
this cause, and no greater sacrifice can |
amy man or woman make"