Before the Red Cross entered the field of rural nursing several attempts
were made to extend this work on a broad plan into the country districts.
After the Peace Conference, held at Portsmouth, N. H., in 1905, the
Russian and Japanese envoys made a gift of $20,000 to the State, to be
used for charitable purposes. At this time several persons who realized
that rural nursing was an important factor in the improvement of social
conditions tried to have this sum used in establishing a state-wide
system. It was not possible, however, to convince those in authority that
this would be the best disposition of the gift. It was the aim of the
Holman Association, incorporated in 1911, “for the promotion of rural
nursing, hygiene and social service.” to expand as resources permitted to
meet the needs of rural communities in the United States, but the society
has recently been disbanded.
There are but few instances where rural nursing has been extended by a
single organization to cover any considerable area. A pioneer work was
started seventeen years ago in North Westchester county, New York, where
the District Nursing Association now employ six nurses and covers about
twenty villages. Gradually new districts in the surrounding territory are
being opened up by the association.
There are, however, several individual nurses meeting the needs of rural
communities, and often under trying conditions. In isolated regions they
are cut off from helpful association with others doing similar work and
the stimulus that comes from identification with an extensive organized
effort. The Red Cross has planned a service of which these nurses may
become a part, which will assist them to establish and maintain high
standards.
Rural nursing as it now exists is generally carried on under the
supervision of a committee which may include several sub-committees.
These are responsible for various branches of the nurses’ work. Wherever
such committees are able to arouse a general interest much has been
accomplished not only in behalf of public health, but in many lines of
public welfare work.
It is expected that in the development of Red Cross rural nursing,
local committees will be created, meeting standards of salary and other
regulations which are deemed necessary to insure the best interests of
a community. The locality benefitted by the work of a nurse is expected
to meet the expenses connected with it. Fees collected from patients
are not sufficient for this, as all sick persons are not able to pay
for the services of the nurse. As a rule, patients are expected to pay
for professional visits, according to their means, but those unable to
make any payments should not go uncared for. The responsibility for
raising the necessary funds rests with the local committee, which also
superintends the work of the nurse.
A general supervision by the Red Cross is maintained through occasional
visits of the superintendent of rural nurses and through monthly reports
of their work.
During the 1910 Red Cross Christmas Seal sale, the Anti-Tuberculosis
Association of Wisconsin, offered the services of a visiting nurse for
one month to twelve cities of a limited population, making the highest
per capita sale. The Red Cross Seal Committee of Ohio, in 1912, sent a
visiting nurse for one month to each of twelve small cities throughout
the State as a prize in the seal-selling contest. Interest in visiting
nursing was thus stimulated to a degree that several of these towns
have since been insisting upon a permanent nurse, and have raised funds
necessary for her support.
Hospitals, dispensaries and medical attendance are seldom as accessible
in the country as in cities. To have the rural nurse a resident in the
community, her services for all regardless of any lines of distinction,
to have intelligent nursing care for patients in their own homes, and
instruction and demonstration given in the principles of hygiene, not
only of person but as applied to home surroundings, are advantages which
have been appreciated wherever the visiting nurse is established.
The best physicians have welcomed her assistance. No stronger testimony
to the value of her services is needed than the present demand for public
health workers in connection with industrial establishments, department
stores, religious and civic institutions and health departments of city,
town and county.
Women of the finest type are needed for this work and those who have
had specialized training in public health activities. Several visiting
nursing associations to be utilized as training centers for Red Cross
nurses offer good opportunities for students to become familiar with
social work of various kinds through lectures, study courses and
affiliations with philanthropic societies in the city. Nurses may thus
come in contact with milk stations, dispensaries, tuberculosis and
charity organization societies, settlements and other social agencies.
Nurses eligible for appointment to the Rural Nursing Service, who have
not already had experience or training in visiting nursing, after a
minimum period of three months with a city nursing association will be
placed one month with an association in the country, thus giving them
actual experience in rural nursing and its problems before assignment
to their post of duty. It is important that the rural nurse be informed
upon the various branches of public health nursing and social service,
as carried on in cities, in order that she may initiate work along these
lines in country places where it is often wholly unorganized. She should
be able to recognize contagious diseases and minor ailments among school
children. By giving simple health talks in the schools, she is able to
utilize one of the most advantageous avenues for influencing the home
life of her people.
Local societies and clubs, the aim of which is to improve unfavorable
conditions that exist in their communities can establish a no more
fruitful source of helpfulness than by the employment of a visiting
nurse. Red Cross Chapters will find in such an undertaking not only
a means of creating interest in local work of the Red Cross, but
opportunity of enlarging their field of usefulness to the community.
The experience of the Red Cross Chapter in Islip, Long Island, in the
employment of a rural nurse has long ago proven the value of this plan of
work.