XII.

Training Schools for Nurses.

THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF TRAINED NURSES IN HOSPITALS.

BY LINDA RICHARDS,

SUPERINTENDENT BROOKLYN HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL.

Miss Florence Nightingale, in a letter read at a meeting recently held in London for the purpose of raising a fund to enable St. Thomas' Hospital to open wards, now not in use, says: "May I venture to call attention to the moral effect of such wards upon the patient's future life? The men cease to swear, the women learn habits of decency, order, and cleanliness, which may be carried out at home. The children hear good words, perhaps for the first time." These are the words of a woman whose judgment is universally respected, whose life has been spent in devising means for the improvement of hospitals for the sick poor. Much of the good accomplished by her is the result of work done by training schools for nurses connected with these hospitals. She has carefully watched the effect produced by these schools, and speaks from actual knowledge when she makes this statement.

Miss Nightingale speaks of the work done in Great Britain; but have not the training schools of America produced the same results?

To enable us to decide this intelligently, we must compare our hospitals at the present time with the same hospitals before the organization of training schools. We will take first one well known to many of us, Charity Hospital on Blackwell's Island, a visit to which, before the organization of the training school, made one heart sick. Untidy wards filled to overflowing with discontented, neglected-looking patients, who received the little attention given

them from nurses of the same class as themselves, who, when asked to do so, showed one about the wards with an air of insolence not pleasant to remember, such is the picture we look back upon. To-day, when we visit this same hospital, we find wards scrupulously clean, filled with patients who look happy and well cared for. Educated, ladylike, refined nurses take pleasure in showing us about the wards, and are ready to give us all desired information. The moral tone of the place is so improved that one feels the change upon entering the door, and wonders if this is the Charity Hospital of years ago.

The change is no less noticeable in Bellevue Hospital, New York, in Blackley Hospital, Philadelphia, and in many others which could be mentioned. This marvellous change is due to nothing but the introduction of training schools into these hospitals.

Miss Nightingale says men cease to swear. Do we find this to be the case? Most assuredly. No word of profanity is ever heard in a hospital where trained nurses are found. Men who have probably never spoken one sentence free from oaths cease to swear when they enter the hospital ward; and not only do they cease to be profane, but they learn to be polite, and that without special instruction. The moral tone of the wards is such that to the men themselves profanity and coarseness seem out of place; and, while they remain in the hospital, they are respectable members of society. They are entirely different from the men who entered the ward, resembling them only in name and features. They have now a few clean pages in their books of life upon which to look back. What a blessing! It may save them from crime some day.

The influence upon the women, while no more marked, is perhaps more lasting. Many a poor woman dates her changed life from a short stay in some hospital ward, where trained nurses ministered to her physical needs, and by helpful words strengthened her moral nature. In the nurse she found a true friend. She made her an example; and, in trying to become like her, she grew into a self-respecting and a respected woman. Many instances like these present themselves to the mind of one who has spent years in hospital work. May I be allowed to give one?

Into a ward in a large city hospital was taken a woman. One can hardly imagine a person more repulsive to look upon,- filthy, raving with the madness caused by drink. Yet this was a human being

who needed care. She was made clean, put into a room by herself until reason was restored, when she was taken to a ward and put into a clean bed. Left to herself, she soon took in all that was going on round her. The nurses were kind and attentive to her, and she felt herself among friends. In a day or two, as the nurse was working over her, she related the story of her life. Born in the home of a drunkard, she had in youth received more blows than kind words. At an early age she married an intemperate man. She drank with

him, and they lived the life usual to that class of people. At the age of twenty-five, in a hospital and among strangers, she first learned the meaning of true kindness. She saw life in an entirely new light, was ashamed of her past life, and resolved to live a better. This she told the nurse. She was encouraged to feel that she could reform, and left the hospital, saying, "I will live a sober life." Nothing was heard of her for some weeks, when one day the nurse met her on the street. She was neatly dressed, and looked respectable. She said, "I have been sober ever since I left the hospital; have worked every day, and am happy." A few weeks of respectable living had completely changed her. Who can estimate the meaning of it to her? and this because of the moral influence of one hospital ward. In more instances than one has the stay in the hospital been the means of preventing a sojourn in some place of correction, and the woman thereby given another opportunity to reform.

But, if we notice this marked change in the women and men, we must be prepared to find a still greater change in the children. The little street Arab, who has been the leader in all kinds of mischief till some accident has befallen him, and he finds himself in a hospital, soon is transformed into a most obedient, polite, and attractive child. The pretty children's ward with its clean cribs, the wholesome food well served, the nurses who are always kind to him, the absence of harsh words and quarrels, make the place seem like heaven to him ; and he can no longer be the boy he was in the old days. How long this influence will live with him after leaving the hospital no one can tell. But, so long as it lives in his memory, it is an influence for good.

A little fellow was taken to a hospital, where he remained several weeks. When he was well enough to go to his home, his father went The child cried to remain; but the bed was wanted for others, and he went away. A few days after his father called to

for him.

thank the nurses for the care given him. He said, "You were good to my boy; but, since he has been home, he has made us a great deal of work, for he will not eat his meals without a clean cloth under his chin." The influence had gone home with him, and was taking root there. Indeed, the moral influence is truly great and far-reachThese nurses give that which is of more value than money. They give their strength, their time, their sympathy, and not infrequently their lives in the service of the sick poor.

ing.

The nurse is a blessing to the sick, to the overworked mothers a wise counsellor, to the weak morally a tower of strength, to the erring a safe guide. Like soldiers, they are ever ready when duty calls.

In a hospital ward lies a dying woman. Her face is turned toward the wall, against which her bed stands. On a table by the bed stands a lighted candle. The door of an adjoining ward opens noiselessly, and the nurse enters. She goes to the bed of the dying woman. As she bends over her, a smile lights up the sick face, and the weak voice says: "I knew you were coming. I watch for your shadow on the wall." It is the nurse who is watched for, and she gives the last words of comfort. She is the only friend the dying woman has. What charity can be greater than this?

THE TRAINED NURSE.

THE CARE OF THE SICK POOR IN THEIR HOMES.

BY SOPHIA F. PALMER, WASHINGTON, D.C.

From practical experience I have little knowledge of the care of the sick poor in their homes; for, although one of the veterans of the profession of which I have the honor to be a member, my work has been confined to the more conventional branches of private and hospital nursing. I propose to deal only in a general way with this subject.

The objects and methods of district nursing have been presented to this convention at the meetings held the two preceding years. In Chicago, two years ago, Miss Houghs and Mrs. Craven, of London, contributed two interesting papers on the system of district

nursing in London and other parts of England. Miss Somerville, one of the district nurses of Boston, read a paper before the Nursing Section, in which the work of that city was described in an exceedingly realistic manner.

Last year, at the meeting in Nashville, the subject was again presented to you in a paper written by Miss Brent, of Brooklyn; and Miss Lathrop, of Hull House, told you something of the work in Chicago.

Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago lead in this movement; but in many of the smaller cities and towns the district nurse is a recognized factor. There are other ways, however, aside from the organized district nursing associations, in which nurses are employed for the care of the sick poor in their homes. Many Protestant churches of different denominations employ trained nurses for the care of the sick poor of their parishes. The Methodist Church is training its deaconesses for this work.

Charitably inclined individuals often make a trained nurse their agent in relieving not only the physical suffering, but the poverty of certain poor people in whom they are interested; or a nurse is provided for a dispensary or for the outdoor service of a hospital. New York presents the greatest variety of methods by which the sick poor are being cared for in their homes. It has no separate district nursing association; but, in connection with the New York City Missionary Society, ten trained nurses are employed, working in the poor districts below 14th Street. These nurses are paid $40 and $45 per month, and are required to live at the Home for Christian Workers, where for $5 per week they are provided with very comfortable rooms and board. These nurses work on practically the same lines as the regular district nurses, following the idea of instruction and using every precaution against pauperizing. They care principally for that class of patients not admitted to hospitals, largely chronic and crippled.

St. John's Guild-which is

non-sectarian employs four trained nurses, who have no regular district, but respond to calls made to the Guild office in any section of the city. The work of the Guild nurses is principally among children. These nurses are paid $60 per month, and board themselves. The Ethical Culture Society employs a number of nurses, who work in connection with certain dispensaries.