Standish High School - Crimson Rambler Yearbook (Standish, ME)

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WHY I PLAN TO FOLLOW THE VOCATION OF A NURSE Anyone who has been ill knows how welcome good nursing can be. Dressed in starched white clothes, the nurse moves quietly about the sickroom, doing the things that makes a patient more comfortable. By following the doctor's orders, she brings relief and physical comfort to the patient and helps promote a speedy return to good health. If you can visualize our civilization without these medical helpers, you will suddenly realize how important they are. The demand for nurses has increased greatly, and is still growing. More and more people are joining hospitalization plans and health insurance groups. This makes it possible for more people, than formarly, to go to the hospital when illness comes. Physicians hospitalize more patients nowadays to give them the benefit of new equipment, treatment methods, and drugs. Another factor is the growth of health education, which emphasizes the importance of early treatment for illness. The increased medical research in hospitals requires the work of nurses for treatment procedures, tests, and accurate observ- vations. The high birth rate of recent years has placed an added strain on hospital facilities and nursing staffs. These trends promise to continue, although the minimum requirement for public health, is one public health nurse for every one thousand people. About 900 counties in the United States have no public health nurse at all! That lack must be filled. National, state, and local health organizations are working to put health service within the reach of every American citizen. Health insurance programs are expanding constantly. ' This all adds up to an ever-growing need for trained nurses Many opportunities, therefore, wait for the young woman who feels the urge to serve her fellowmen as a nurse, and who has 1 the necessary qualities and education to make good in the profession. As in many other professions, salaries in the nursing pro- fession are subject to many changes at the present time. The increased cost of living and the growing demand for nursing services constitute at least two important factors responsible for this. In addition, salaries vary in different parts of the country, and may even vary from one hospital to another in the same city. However, in general, the young nurse to day will begin at a salary ranging from a possible S190 to 3210 a month, her maintenance being deducted from this amount, which is anywhere between 630 to 350 a month. Specialized nurses, such as psy- chiatric nurses and operating room nurses, usually, begin at slightly higher salaries. Hospitals pay some S10 to 820 extra for evening and night duty. Average salaries in the field are higher, of course, than starting rates, and vary from one locality to another.

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WBut what will Rusty say?N WI don't know, that is the worst of it, but we must have the money. We can always get another colt.W That seemed to settle it for there was nothing else said. When Rusty's father told him that they were going to sell Star, he knew there was no use to protest. He was so upset, he eouldn't find enough time to spend with Star. Star was taken away the next day. Everything seemed gloomy after that. Rusty wandered about restlessly. There seemed to be nothing of interest to do and school was to begin soon. Then, one day, Vr. O'Rielly came into the house with a wide smile on his face. Nwhat has happened?W Yrs. O'RieIly asked anxiously. WYou know the bank where we had our money when the depression came and all the banks were closed? It says here in the paper that they are starting up again and they are paying a percentage of the amount they owed. They are to open sometime before the New Year.W A few days after this happening a colt was born. Rusty was one of the first to see it. The first time he set his eyes on it he decided that he was going to call it his own. It lifted its head and seemed to be looking right at him. Mr. O'Rielly was away from home at the time, but on his arrival home, Rusty was there to tell him the news and to take him straight to the stable to see the colt. His father was as pleased as Rusty. The new little colt was just the color of Sta NOh, Daddy, may I have him for my very own?W Wwhy, yes, you deserve it. You may care for him and I think Tom will help you break him when he gets a little older.H WOh, may I really break him?W Why, sure. What are you going to name him?W WI don't know yet. I must think up the best name.U But this didn't prove to be a hard task for the next morning the colt was wide awake and looked at him with bright twinkling eyes. He knew in a minute what the name was ---- NTwinkles.W Daphne Gould '51 Mother: WJimmy, you have your shoes on the wrong feet.N Jimmy: NBut, Nom ie they're the only feet I have.W I'

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Private duty nurses in large cities receive 310 for eight hours of duty, 3512 for 12 hours, and S513 for 20 hours, In that city, private duty nurses can earn between 32,000 and 33,000 a year, depending on how many hours they are willing to work. Qualified .urses rarely have to wait between cases nowadays. Some professional associations, which strive to obtain for nurses as much of a normal life as ossible, are, at present, recommending a beginning salary of 5200 a month, exclusive of maintenance. In contrast to the importance of her work, the nurse works under a few unpleasant circumstances. Although some hospitals have adopted the L0-hour week, the majority of hospitals still hold as much as 5b or more hours a week. The work of all nurses is hard, both physically and men- tally. Nurses remain on their feet a great part of the time, bending and lifting. The responsiblity of watching a sick person may be more tiring than the more physical effort requir- ed. Nurses working with patients suffering from contagious diseases may contract them, although the hazard is slight owing to the precautions they take. The nursing career has numerous advantafes. For one thing, a.nurse's education and experience often proves very useful in a woman's private life. As a matter of fact, more nurses get married than women in other professions. A nurse learns how to take care of herself. Another important advantage to a nursing career for women is the lack of significant male' - competition. Above all, a nurse has the satisfaction of min- istering to sick and ailing fellow beings, and helping to res- tore them to health and usefulness. ' . To be a good nurse, certain personality traits are Wmustsn A girl needs good health, above all, for nursing entails long hours on one's feet and adjustment to many strenuous physical and emotional situations. A nurse must have a spirit of service, for this is really the essence of her job. As people are her primary concern, she should be able toget along well with them. Fact, good judgement, amiability, sympathy, patience, and adaptability are prime requisites for a good nurse. She must be selfreliant and sure of herself before she can help other people. Finally, she must have a sense of humor and be dependable. In the next few years, I shall strive to improve my qual- ifications, so that I may become an WAngel of Mercyn, the name nurses have carved for themselves through their willing efforts to help humanity. Janice Watson '53