Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1919-12-25
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Difference Between Public Health
Nursing and Home Service Work

Nursing and Home Service Work
To many of US Red Cross work
means nursing because of the i'm.
portant part the nurse played in the
war work Of the organization. But
there is a phase of Red Cross work
which developed during the war and
played an important part in the lives
of the soldiers families and in the
community here at home. This is
Home Service which with Junior Red
Cross and Public Health Nursing
make up the Peace Program Of the
American Red Cross.
II is not necessary to explain Jun
ior Red Cross. But Public Health
Nursing and Home Service are Of
ten confused in the minds of many
althos really they are two distinct
branches Of Red Cross activities, the
None supplementing the other in SER
vice to the community where it is
possible to have both. Each branch
works with the family as unit.
Briefly the Public Health Nurse looks
after the physical welfare of the
members of the family while the
Home Service Worker Tor Secretary
sees to the economic and social sides
of the family life. Should Public
Health Nurse find a family that needs
financial as we'll as medical assist
ance in order that living conditions
may be normal, she reports such
case to the Home Service Worker.
The Home Service worker then Wis
it's the family, investigates the cause
OF financial distress and seeks to
remedy it by advancing temporary
loan il necessary; but il the cause is
lack OF employment or employment
for which the working or bread-win-
ming members of the family are not
best adapted, she aids in securing
the proper employment. Thus Home
Service endeavors to help the family
referred to It to maintaina a stand
ard of independence and self-sup-
port. Moreover Home Service plans
to make it possible for all children
of school age Of the family dealt with
t be in school. Cooperates with
churches in furthering the religious
life and with any agency for recrea-
ton in promoting wholesome So
cial life. On the other hand should
Home Service worker find a family
where medical assistance is needed
she reports it to the Public Health
Nurse.
Some chapters are 80 fortunate as
to have been able to secure both the
Home Service Secretary and the
Public Health Nurse. But many
have only the Home Service as there
are not enough nurses with Public /
Health Nursing training to supply
the demand (due to the need of hos
pital nurses during the war;. Thus
Thus many chapters have not been
able to secure both the Public Health
Nurse and also many can not afford
both. the Home Service Secretary
and the Public Health Nurse. In
these chapters which have not the
Nurse but the Home Service worker
,nly, the latter endeavors to look af
.er the health of the families under
aer care by arranging with the local
physicians or any health agency Of
he community for any medical aid.
The Putnam County Chapter IL
,ne of the chapters which have the
Home Service worker only. Hence
,othing Of the nature Of Public Health
Nursing will attempted by the
Home Service Worker or Secretary.
~. auJnME CEDuTCrc,, - ;r%ocu.a
family casework, and AFTER
,are 10 rthe Discharged and Dis
lbled" will be given to families or
men needing it, whether the need 10 !
made known thru the personal appli-
,ation Of the one seeking it or thru ,
ts being referred by an interested
person to whom the need is known.