Evening journal., 1921-01-31
PUBLIC NURSING
WORK EXPLAINED
Teacher Tells What is Being
Done for School
Children
1,O85 HOMES
VISITED IN 1920

Much good work has been accom-
plshed in the State by The Red Cross
Public Health Nursing Service, one
OF the three departments Of the Bu-
reau Of Hygiene, Delaware Chapter, A.
r. c. It is under the direction Of
Miss Caroline Robclen who super
vises three Red Gross Public Health
Community Nurses and six county
school nurses and one clinical nurse
at the wOrkhOuse. The six school
nurses are working for the State
Board Of Edusation and paid from the
Christmas Seals sale
Miss RObelen recently In explaining
the character Of the nursing service
said
The very nature of the school
nurses work makes Il impossible TO
estimate the result with any degree
OF accuracy, since the seed planted
by her Will bear fruit not only this
year nor next but on down through
the years OF the future when the
daildren OF today have become the
aprents Of tomorrow. The school
nurses work is 10 teach the art Of
keeping WELL the training OF health
habits and to encourage the cOrrec-
ton Of defects that will lead 10 bet
ter health. Their work in the ahOOl
begins with a brief talk TO the chill
dren, explaining Just what they ex-
pcct TO do, then a preliminary exam
ination Of each child, which consists
Of weighing, measuring, examining Of
teeth, tonsils. etc This lis followed
by a general physical examination bv
the medieval inspector assisted by the
school nurse. A card is sent to the
parents or guardian OF each child
notifying them Of any existing de-
feet and recommending its cOrre tiOn.
The school nurse Will assist The par
ents in this by directing them 10 the
proper sources, or, when the parents
are unable TO do so, will herself take
the children 10 the dentist, Oculist or
hospital dispensary. She has been
the means OF detecting and arresting
the spread OF contagious disease In
tle school room. She also inspects
The school buildings and their sur
roundings. and by reporting insani-
tary conditions 10 the proper author
tiles, has had many Of Them correct
cd. There is, however, still room for
much Improvement i'm this direction
In the rural schools OF Delaware: fO.-
N't fNdilihilNUN we're Uldut ana ltNl
home visits made last year.
AS step toward reducing the
number OF cases OF malnutrition- OF
which There are an alarming number
in Delaware,-th Red Cross has
planned. with the co-Opcratiln OF the
school teachers. to supplement the
lunch OF The children In some of the
rural schools with a hot dish-cocOa
or soup This plan is already being
carried out In some OF our schools.
and, a recent appropriation by our
executive committee has made 10 pos
/ sihle Tor ms TO assist in furnishing
| equipment In about twenty more
schools The selection OF these
schools will he regulated by the mum
her Of malnourished children ant
necessarily by the willingness Of IN,
! teachers and the children TO cO-oper.
/ ate. The health reports OF Delawar,
show an unusually high hate OF tuber
culosis and II is the undernoursihed
or what Is more commonly the rase
I ralnOurished children. who. because
! of their lowered vitality. are In great
er danger Of contracting this disease
The Red Cross community nurses
are doing all around public health
nursing including school work. bed
side nursing care. child's hygiene.
conducting venereal clinics anil gen
eral health educational work