Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-05
NURSES WANTED

underestimate nurse, and one OF the
pupils is detailed to him at about hkf
tho graduates fec, the money going To
the hospital Now II this work lasted
few days, even a week. II might be
practical experience for the student.
She would learn something OF that
particular type OF disease. But the
case may go on for weeks or months.
and the nurse is gaining nothing.
Besides too long hours and a too
flexible system OF instruction in train
ing schools. pupil nurses have had to
put up with bad rooming conditions.
In one hospital here an unused ward
is fitted as "A dormitory for the pupils.
In another school the students live
, in houses across tho street from the
hospital. four or i've girls in a room.
The desirable standard for nurses
quarters is comfortable residence
we'll lighted and heated and separate
from tho hospital with single rooms
for the students.
Hospitals are having to meet higher
standards because they can no longer
overlook the fact that young women
arc more cautious about starting upon
q career now than they once were No
girl who enters a hospital with any un-
dcrstnanding OF tho work cNpccts TO
have an easy time. but she does cN-
pcct and demand a broad course Of
training under Hvabic conditions.
Girl Hs. Many Chances
There arc so many other vocations
open to the high school girl graduate
now that she no longer takes up nurs-
ing as the alternative OF life OF
teaching school. That is the main rca-
son why the army OF nurses has
dvindcd. Business Inv and other pro-
fcssions are offering big rewards.
while the hospitals have gone on com
placcntly thinking that the great on
portunity FOR service thru nursing
would continue as sure an attraction
as ever.
Most women who take up nursing as
a profession are impressed by the
possibilities OF the work, but nowadays
"a girl who is Interested in this kind Of
social service Is generally Interested
enough to ind out exactly what she
will get by her course OF training For
instance. there are fewer girls enter
ing those hospitals, sanatoria and
private hospitals that are not able to
register their graduates. Not to be
registered in tho state means that the
graduate with her two or three years
lof training cannot become n member of
tho Red Cross nursing association, an
army or navy nurse, nor would she be
| admitted as a staff nurse in most
hospitals OF recognized standing
| Training school standards are rising
and so arc the standards far nurses. At
one time girls out OF grammar school
I mittcd as probationCrs- Tho tendency
now Is to demand q high school di-
/ ploma and to make the nurses training
| approximate college or normal school
course with ". :. degree. over 20
colleges now maintain schools Of nurs-
Ing. usually give Eve year course
/ The army also has an excellent train
ing school where "A thrcc-ycar course
| is given.
Nurses--roally trained nurses-arc
going to be needed in cvcr-increasins
numbers as we aim at higher stand
ards of health and sanitation Right
now. more public health hurscs arc
needed for child welfare. visiting nurse
! associations, and medical social service
departments Graduate nurses for
permanent hospital staffs are scarce
ono reason why the student nurse has
had less time for study during hcr
hospital training. Tho army IL CON
ducting its own campaign for more stu-
dents. Nurses for home duty and for
missionary work arc also scarce. And
yet these branches offer "a more varied
or a more highly specialized career
than nurses have ever been offered be
fore
The nurses assccia tions have orsnu-
izod their campaign on a remarkably
systematic basis Rcd Crosss chapters
womcn's clubs boards of education
and other local organizations are told
10 form n local committee to conduct
each campaign. And from that point
the campaign is series of posters,
speeches, literature, and moving pic
lures until the town or state gets the
recruits needed.
Recruiting may continue for
months, oven years" says Major Julia
Stimson, superintendent of the army
nurse corps, who is chairman on the
national recruiting committee. "rha
drive has Just begun, but tho outlook
Is hopeful because already tho states