New Britain herald., 1930-05-29
Student Nurses Receive Diplomas
AT General Hospital Graduation;
Willimantic Girl Wins $50 Award

jects too numerous to mention. So
ramified and complicated have the
subjects become that it is now being
seriously advocated that the candi-
date for a nurses degree should have
graduated from a recognized college
of arts and letters where these sub
jects are taught. after which she
should enter hospital for prac-
teal training.
The broader the foundation the
better the nurse, is becoming the
universal cry. and in no place is
this better exempified than during
the period of convalescenCe, when
every resource at the nurses COM
mand must be brought to bear to
entertain and keep up the morale of
the patient.
The earliest nursing school of
Philadelphia, which started in 1861.
The New England hospital for Wom-
en- and Children was next esta blish-
ed in 1872. In 1880 there were Il
few trained nurses in the Unite /
States. but they were by no means
common.
Growth OF Nursing Profession
The United States census of 1900
shows that there were 1854 gradu-
ate nurses in the United States in
that year. From that time, note how
rapidly they have increased. In 1910
there we're S2,327 and in 1920 there
were 149,12S. Compare these figures
with those OF physicians. In 1900
there were $1,000, in 1910, 151,132.
in 1920, l44,977. 1t is interesting TO
note how much more rapid has been
the increase in nurses than physi-
clans. These figures can be put in
another form. For every 100000
population there were in 1900 IS
nurses for 173 physicians. In 1910
80 nurses for 164 physicians. In
1920 al nurses for 1877 physicians.
While the figures for 1880 are not
yet available, there is every reason
TO believe that the relative excess
Of nurses over physicians is by this
time considerably greater. This, |
understand from medical authori-
ties, is not considered an uneven
balance.
The reason for such a large in
crease of nurses over physicians IA
the last 80 years is due to the fact
that the standard for admission and
graduation OF the medical schools
has been materially raised. The sta
tstician who compiled the figures
give above has carried the matter
further and estimates that if pres
ent conditions continue. the gradu-
ate class of nurses in 1865 will con-
tain 10000 nurses, and should a
census be taken in 1865 it will show
approximately $1,000 nurses active
ly at work in the profession. That
is to say, unless some control is ex-
erclsed in the near future w which
the number Of nurses allowed to en-
ter training schools is greatly dim
Inished, or unless the number Of
medical graduating classes is ma
terlally increased, we will have in
this country in 1865 between four
and f1ves as many nurses as there
are physicians.
1T hardly seems feasible that the
census of 1865 will show any such
number Of graduate nurses, for the
reason that standards will be very
materially increased and the in
crease Will be N quality and not IN
quantity.
of the 149,1eS nurses in 1870.
some 1000 were employed as pub
lie health nurses and approximately
the same number in hospitals and
other institutions. leaving over 100
600 for private duty service. This IS
a ratio of one trained nurse to every
700 persons for the country as a
whole.
Private Duty Field Open
PLEASE bear in mind these fig
ures-120,0 900 private duty nurses,
1000 public health nurses, and H.