Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-11-28
NURSE TRAINING
IN RURAL AREAS
BEING PROVIDED
ITuNERANT TEACHERS BRINGING
RED CROSS INSTRUCTION
TO THESE SECTIONS

Itinerant instructors are bringing
! Red Cross home nursing instruction
| into many rural areas where hereto
+ fore it has not been available At a
/ recent meeting Of the National Coun-
ell on Red Cross home nursing $4,000
from the Jane Delano fund was ap-
propriated to finance itinerant nurses
to teach home nursing in rural ter
ritories where it has been impossible
to find either volunteer or paid in
structors.
According to Mrs. August C. Bel
mont, president Of the council, 80 per-
cent or 48,2O9. of the home nursing
certificates issued in the last three
months have gone to rural residents
This is largely due to the emphasis
given rural classes since appointment
of Mrs. Roy c. F. Weagly as the farm
representative Of the council.
At the meeting of the council a
goal Of 100000 home nursing certi-
ficates to be issued by June 80. 1943.
was set. Men, women and children to
the number of $40, 1888 have completed
home nursing courses since the goal
of 100000 was announced year ago.
Persons earning certificates will soon
be privileged to wear a special Red
Cross badge which is being designed
at Red Gross National headquarters.
with the new itinerant nurse
instructor program there should be
no excuse for any rural area not hav-
ing a home nursing program" Mrs.
Weagly said 1T is ksoFed that most
classes still can be taught by volun-
FAv M
nurses can be reversed for areas where |
otherwise there could be no instruc-
ion. It is vital that our rural people |
now how to maintain their maxi |
mum efficiency. This is possible only |
f they keep well. With doctors over
worked it is often impossible for them
% answer calls to isolated areas as
speedily as they could in peacetime.
More than ever we must carry on the
arm tradition of being self-reliant.
The itinerant nurse viii usually
pend two months in one area, where
he may teach as many as six groups.
Instruction requires from "a to 30
lours of classroom work, divided gen
rally into periods Of two hours, held
vice a week.
One unit of the course deals with
ealth and happiness In the home. II
overs such subjects as protection
gainst disease, wise selection OF food,
nd healthful home environment. An
Their unit concerns community health.
third unit has to do with the care
{ mother and baby and care Of the !
lfant through the first year. Fourth,
he course teaches what to do when
ckness invades the home. This Is OF !
oecial Importance in rural areas.
ecognize Early Symptoms
Home nursing students are taught !
ow to recognize certain early symp- !
ms of illness. They learn the Inn !
,rtance of reading thermometer, OF
king the pulse and counting respira- !
On. They know when to call the doc :
r., and they know how to keep
ckroom record.
They can give a bed bath and :
lange a bed with the patient in 1t.
aey know how to improvise sicNoom
Iuipment, making hospital tables
ON ironing boards, back rests out OF
itcases or Washboards, inhalors out
tea kettles, etc. Because OF the ever
esent threat of epidemic, Red Cross
Dme nursing students are instructed
methods of preventing the spread Of
sease. They know how to Isolate q
.tient and how to protect themselves
Id other members of the household
om exposure.
Farm groups interested In forming
I'd Gross home nursing classes should
mmunicate with the Red Cross
lapter operating in their area. The
lapter will make arrangements
rough the national Red Cross or
for the visit of an itinerant
rse- instructor.