Evening star., 1933-06-11
VISITING NURSE BECOMES GUIDE
AND PHILOSOPHER FOR PATIENT
Work of 6O-Odd Staff Members of Society
Entails Much More Than
Caring for Illness.

The 60-odd members of the gradu.
ate field nursing staff of the Instruc.
tive Visiting Nurse Society of Wash.
ington habitually encounter appealing
curious and sometimes humorous cases
and incidents in the course of their ex-
tensive daily rounds. The heads of the
organization urged them to write ir
brief form at least one of thecc, a priZe
being offered each month for the best
The little contest ran six months. The
activities of visiting nurse often &c
beyond the limits of actual nursing;
she sometimes becomes guide, philoso-
pher and friend for the individual OF
family for which she cares. The win
ming efforts for the first two months of
the contest are printed herewith: the
others will follow at intervals
"Mees Nurse" Pays Visit
NO. l.
Mrs Roma reached across the bed
and snatched the pacifier out Of the
sleeping baby's mouth With dexterity
born of long practice she wiped the
traces of lollypop from his sticky little
face with the hem of his dress. She
Strengthened the bed covers with eff
cient little shakes and pats. 'MeeS
Nurse was coming through the down.
stairs hall and scolded about such
things She had stopped on the stairs
now to look at Rosie's aching tooth.
Rosie had broken the last dental ap-
pointment to go to the movies, but
'Mees Nurse" would make another ap-
pointment. She always did.
Mrs Roma had been in bed for eight
weeks. An auto accident had ended
in a broken hip for her. The week in
the hospital had been exciting and
novel after the pain stopped. There
had been so much to see and hear in
the hospital At home. however, with
the children clamoring and Tony
scolding. she had become nearly frantic
in her helplessness The cast had been
off now for two weeks. The disappoint-
ment she had known when she realized
that she couldn't walk had been so
bitter, SO poignant, she still couldn't
think about it without heartache. "Mees
Nurse had helped make her comfort
able through the long weeks in the
cast and had taugh 14-year-old Camille
how to care for her during the day.
Now she was still standing by, en-
couraging and helping in the slow Job
of re-education of mended bones and
Start on Road to Citizenship.
Good morning, Mrs Roma. stop
ped by Mr.. Cardi's and borrowed his
book again. I!e says you can keep 1t
this week. That will give you time to
get your lessons in case the teacner
GENES on Monday"
Roma was not. It was 'Mees Nurses"
idea to get Mrs. Roma started on the
road to citizenship while in bed and
she followed it up by borrowing books
from the neighbors and hearing the
lessons.
did you learn the names of the
George washington-John Adams
and-a@"
While she was absorbed in the mazes
Of American history 'MeeS Nurse" got
the painful part of the massage over
with.
Nov you help me, Mrs. Roma. The
doctor wants you to try to stand today.
We should be able to do it If you have
been faithful about your exercises.
Have you?"
"Sure!" from the complacent Mrs.
Roma Don you think I wanna get
up quick?"
All right tnen, letS Try.
Carefully Mrs Roma was piloted out
of bed and gently she was placed upon
the mended leg. For just an instant
she stood alone, but in that instant
her confidence was restored She could
standl She would walk again!
Back in bed, her eyes filled with
tears of relief and gratitude.
''Mees nurSe!"
sFVeS Mrs Roma "
Il won geeve Joe da sucker any
more!'