New Britain herald., 1928-06-20

health talking on the subject dis
trioution of Nursing Service and
Promotion of Community Nursing
| Needs" pointed out the enormous
increase in the number of gradu-
ate nurses during the past 20 years.
estimating that there are now IOo,-
600 nurses in private duty, $1,000
in institutions and 10000 in public
health. There is an over supply and
they are still graduating! The an
swer. he said, is more organization.
the development of group nursing.
hourly nursing service by the Visit
ing Nurse associations and the Or
ganization of nurse registries on
constructive cooperative basis. BY
these means it might be possible TO
secure for every patient the amount
and kind OF nursing service he
needs and for the nurses reasonable
! hours and adequate income.
! In 1926 committee on the
grading of nursing schools was es-
tablished, composed of representa-
tives from the following organiza-
tlODS. Ilt .NdtIUfltl Liza ut vi .Nul
ing Education, American Nurses as
ISOLATION, National Organization for
Public Health Nursing. American
Medical association, American Col
lege of Surgeons. American Hospital
association, American Public Health
association, seven members at large
representing the lay public.
The first part Of the f've-year
program has been a study OF the
supply and demand for nurses, a
study of the economics OF the pro-
fession prepared by DR.. May Bur-
CESS, and of outstanding values.
Outstanding in one way because the
information has been secured from
all sorts of sources which touch in
any way the nursing 1ield-much of
its from nurses themselves.
Before an audience which packed
the jefferson county armory to Its
ca pacity at the closing session Of the
convention. DIR. May Aryes Burgess,
director of the committee on the
grading of nursing schools, present.
ed the results of the study made by
this committee. 1t was most dra-
matte presentation of facts that are
profoundly significant, and in pre-
aenting this material DIR, Burgess
did SO with the challenge: 'What
are you going to do with il ?" The
main situations brought to light by
the study We're:
l. OSerproduction of nursing,
which is resulting in Unemployment.
.. A serious shortage Of specially
qualified nurses.
The problem, therefore. is not
one OF quantity but one OF quality.
These findings. DR.. Burgess stated,
lead to suggestions which, briefly
summar ized. are as follows:
!. Reduce and improve the sup
ply Raise entrance requirement.
into training schools high enough SO
that only properly qualified women
will be admitted to the profession.
.. Replace students in hospitals
with graduates. putting major part
OF rospital bedside nursing in hands
of graduates.
u. f1elp hospitals meet 'ost VI
graduate service by assisting them
in securing funds for the employ
ment of graduate nurses.
4. Get public support for nursing
education. Place schools of nursing
under direction OF nurse educators
instead of hospital administrators.
A complete report Of the study
made by this committee may b
found In DR.. burgess book. Nurses
Patients and Pocketbooks,' which is
just off the pressa
The board members present a
the Visiting Nurse association meet
ing were: Mrs Ernest NJ. Smith
Mrs. Robert NJ. Parsons, Mrs. Gard
ner &. Weld, Mrs. james b. Thorn
son, Mrs. Rufus \. Hemenway, Mrs
Lawrence G.. Humason. Mrs. Noaf
Lucas. Mrs. Patrick +. Donough ant
Mrs. William f. Parker.
RACHEL c. COLBY.
! Director