The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-03
RED CROSS NURSE
IS COMING HERE
Public Health Nursing and Heme
Hygiene Instruction Part OF
Peace Time Program
SPEAKS AT cHAUTAUaUA.
"Nurse the Most Needed Woman In the
WerId," Says Miss Jane A. Dslans,
Director Of the Department Of Nurs-
Ing Of the American Red Gross.

To place the public health on
higher plane than 1t has ever been is
the object Of a national program un-
dertaken by the American Red Cross
as part Of its peace time plan. From
coast to coast and from lakes to gulf
the Red Cross is spreading the gospel
of good health and Of the proper care
Of the sick by fostering the study and
practice of nursing, both by organized
public health activities and by MEM
bers of the family la every. home.
Through the Chautauqua an Official
representative of the Red Cross De-
partment of Nursing will soon tell the
people of this community the story of
what is being done and will ask their
cooperation.
One of the great lessons Of the world
war is found in the unnecessarily low
standards Of physical health revealed.
This was brought out most forcibly In
the great number Of reflections Of
young men called to the colors under
the Selective Service Law. Records
show that throughout the United
States one-third Of the young men ex-
amined for military service were dis
qualified from bearing arms for their
country through minor physical de-
fects, a large proportion Of which
might have been avoided by compul-
sorry school examination and proper
medical and nursing care.
Urgent Need of Nurses.
further proof Of the general urgent
need of women trained in nursing was
supplied by the epidemics of Spanish
influenza that have caused terrific
loss of life and suffering throughout
the country. Hundreds of thousands
of persons died, and In many commu-
mites the plague spread without any
adequate means Of checking 1t because
of the impossibility Of obtaining won.
en- capable of caring for the victims
Reports show that many persons &C
tually died without attention because
the overworked doctors could moi
reach them all, nurses could not be
found who knew what to do, and
neighbers feared to go near the help
less patients.
The uselessness and danger Of sucl
waste of human power" is only toe
apparent, for the health and strength
Of nation can only be measured b!
the health and strength of Its people
Recognizing the fact that the crux O.
| the whole situation lies in giving everl
community the means Of building vi
its own nursing strength, the Ameri
| can Red Cross, In cooperation will
| the various Chautauquas, is sending
broadcast the message that none cal
afford to ignore.
Phases Of PubIie Health Nursing
Public health nursing includes man,
| phases, such as bedside nursing, II
| which the nurse visits the patient
and gives them hourly care as nece.
sary; school nursing; care Of expect
ant mothers, babies and small chill
dren; work in factories and industris
centers; rural nursing, and instruc
ton In Red Cross courses, home hyg
enc, home dietetics, care of the siel
and various other forms of commit
! nifty service.
To all American women the Re
Cross sends this message:
IF you are interested In nursin
as a profession, enter one Of the traii
ing schools for nurses, many Of whic
offer scholarships, and specialize
public health work. II you are a
ready graduate nurse and anxior
to enter this field, the Red Cross hs
scholarships and loan funds whie
will equip you for this work. Wivt
and mothers are urged to take the Re
Cross Course of Instruction in Hem
Hygiene and Care of the Sick so tn,
they will be able to maintain to Il
highest degree the health and to nuri
members of their household In time
minor illnesses"
Throughout the length and breadt
of the land the American Red eros
spreading the gospel Of good health,
sounding call to American women
adopt the study Of nursing, either
join a profession which is daily
coming more highly valued or to
themselves for nursing in the home.
The Red Cross lecturer soon to a
pear her will help her hearers visus
ize the remarkable history Of nursil
service at home and abroad and W
expound the, ideals of health conserv
ton so often neglected in many col
munities. Supplementing the sen
mental side Of nursing, the meth
touch, the lecturer will give demo
stratien of efficiency in the sick roo
Modern methods Of sanitation and s.
entific handling Of the individual 81
and of epidemics will also be outlin
, to her. audience.
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