Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-04-04

ii''fy service and adapting itself to the new war
tlme conditions which are bound to follow
Inc country has shown determination that it's
soiuers and sailors shall have proper care de-
ciares MISS Jane A. Delano director of the depart
ment OF nursing of the American Red Cross Miss
Deiaho mas been responsible for the organization
oI the great war nursing service of the Red Cross
Inc calls made upon the Red Cross nursing
service by the government have been met I'D to
this time,' said Miss Delano in discussing the
growing need Of nurses. 1.-THE gravity of the sitl1a
ton lies in the problem Immediately confronting
the country 1t is inconceivable that our bows and
men, who are offering all they have for u.s. should
not have the best care that the utmost skill and
devotion can give them Nurses have responded
spendidy to military service, soon 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 a
vacancy in civilian life. And this, too at q 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 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 depending on us to supplement their
own nursing service. There are between $4,000
and 10000 nurses registered in the United States.
Approximately 1900 of this number are 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 the department of
nursing has selected and equipped for service with
the army nurse corps 42O4 nurses, and with the
navy nurse corps $40. 1t is maintaining several
hundred more directly under the Red Cross, in
Guiding SO nurses in France, IL in Roumania, three
in Greece and one in Serbia, and Sc Red Cross pub
lie health nurses on duty in the sanitary
rounding the environments There also
1000 nurses organized into units and practically
ready for mobilization.
Though the enrolment of nurses with the Red
Cross averages 1000 month"; not even this num-
Der will meet the constantly increasing needs of
the government" continued Miss Delano. $50 far,
by careful adjustment these demands have been
met without seriously disorganizng the home
ditions But from on 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 is 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.
'"Ihe general public" she said, "can cooperate
in such vital matters as releasing more private
duty nurses for military duty. 1t can do this def
nitey and Immediately by utilizing hospital facili
ties, visiting nurses, and similar agencies where
ore nurse care for several patients; by fam
lilies learning to care for minor illnesses in their
homes, and by preparing by whatever means
are 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
Is lessons each in Elementary Hygiene and Home
for tha DietpticS.' which
were established for the purpose of aiding women
to care for the sick in their own homes. Several
groups of men, about to move into isolated dis
tricts have also taken these courses.
Then continued Miss Delano, public interest
As needed in recruiting the nursing profession The
country through the surgeon general, through the
Red Cross through the council of national defense,