The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-04-05

military service and adapting itself to the
time conditions which bound to follow.
The country has shown determination that Its
soldiers and sailors shall have proper care. de-
clares Miss Jane A Deano. director of the depart
ment Of nursing of the American Red Cross. Miss
Deano has been responsible for the organization
OF the great war nursing service OF the Red Cross
The calls made upon the Red Cross nursing
service by the government have been met up to
this time, said Miss Delano, In discussing the
growing need Of nurses. THE gravity Of the situa
tion lies In the problem Immediately confronting
the country. 1t is nconcevable that our boys and
men, who are offering all they have for u.s. should
not have the best that the utmost skill and
devotion can give them. Nurses have responded
spendidly to military service as they have
realized the enormity of the needs
THE nursing profession will not fail But the
fact that must be brought home to everyone Is that
every nurse released for military duty leaves q
vacancy In civilian life. And this. too. at time
when there is an increased amount of sickness and
distress brought about by the very war conditions
which decrease the number Of nurses In civilian
hospitals.
BY a recent estimate of the surgeon generals
office not far from 10000 nurses may be needed
II the war continues, for our army alone and the
allies are depending us to supplement their
own nursing service There between $4,000
and 10000 nurses registered in the United States
approximately 1900 Of this number already
enrolled Red Cross nurses. This enrolment is the
reserve of the United States army nurse corps and
navy nurse corps, and from II nurses are also sup
piled to the United States public health service as
required.
"since the declaration of war the department of
nursing has selected and equipped for service with
the army nurse corps 4,2O4 nurses, and with the
navy nurse corps $40 1t Is maintaining several
hundred more directly under the Red Cross, in
cludng SO nurses In France IL in Roumania. three
in Greece and one in Serbia, and SO Red Cross pub
lie health nurses on duty In the sanitary
CantOnmentS There
1000 nurses organized into units and practically
ready for mobilization.
Though the enrolment of nurses with the Red
Cross averages 1000 IL month not even this num-
Der viii meet the constantly increasing needs Of
the government" continued Miss Delano. so far,
by careful adjustment these demands have been
met without seriously disorganizIng the home con-
ditions But from every possible effort
will have to be made by the general public as we'll
as by the nursing profession and nurses training
schools to meet wisely and effectively the crisis
that ls created by the rapidly decreasing number
Of nurses In civilian hospitals"
When asked how the general public could con-
tribute to bring this about, Miss Delano outlined
several plans of cooperation
THE general public" she said, "can cooperate
In such vital matters releasing private
duty nurses for military duty. 1t can do this def
nitely and Immediately by utilizing hospital facili
ties visiting nurses, and similar agencies where
nurse can for several PATIENTS by fam
lies learning to care for minor illnesses In their
own homes and by preparing by whatever means
afforded in their communities to assist in all
matters pertaining to public health,
"A striking example of how the women of the
country have already begun to take hold Of the
situation is the fact that over $4,000 women have
satisfactorily completed the Red Cross courses Of
1b lessons each in Elementary Hygiene and Home
Care for the Sick and Home Dietetics,' which
were established for the purpose Of aiding women
to care for the sick In their own homes. Several
n lDOl0t0d
tricts, have also taken these courses.
'Then," continued Miss Delano public interest
u needed in recruiting the nursing profession. The
country through the surgeon general. through the
Red Cross. through the council Of national defense