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DN150 : One Hundred and Fifty Years of District Nursing
(home page:- http://www.districtnursing150.org.uk)
Nurses.
—
ADDLESTONE NURSING INSTITUTION,
Alexandra-road, Addlestone, Surrey near the station. — Six nurses. Terms from
£1 1s. to £2 2s. per week, according to the cases. Infectious and insane cases
always £2 2s. Travelling expenses
to and from,the institution, extra.
AESCULAPIAN MEDICAL & SURGICAL
HOME, 10, Bentinck-street, Cavendish - square. — Number of nurses: indoor, 5;
out-door, 25. Terms: resident patients from £4
4s. per week, with their own medical man (which the director prefers).
This institution affords the most suitable accommodation to ladies and gentlemen
requiring medical and surgical care, combined with the advantages of trained
nurses, or trained gentlewomen to act as nurse and amanuensis, appropriate
apartments, &
ASSOCIATION OF TRAINED NURSES AND
MALE ATTENDANTS, 37, Davies-st, Berkeley square, W.—No fixed number of nurses.
Terms vary according to nurse and case. Monthly nurses are never sent to
infectious or contagious disorders. Nurses in this association have their own
homes, and the bulk of their earnings; many of them are widows.
HOME AND SISTERHOOD OF ST. JOHN THE
EVANGELIST. Branch Home: Maternity Home and Training School, 7, Ashburnham-road,
Chelsea, S.W. Superintendent, the Lady Superior of St. John’s Home.—Twelve
beds. Admission free. Applicants must be poor, respectable, and married women.
This home was opened in August, 1877, for the reception of poor married women,
and for the training of monthly nurses, It is under the charge of a qualified
sister and nurses of St. John’s Home. Monthly nurses supplied.
INSTITUTION
FOR NURSES FOR NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISORDERS, PARALYSIS, AND EPILEPSY, 1,
King-street, Park-st, Grosvenor. square W. —Number of nurses unlimited.
Terms: £1 2s., £1 6s., £1 11s, per week. Payment to be every six weeks, when
the fifth week is expired. No nurses to be sent home on Sunday; if sent out
Sunday, their week ends Saturday. Founded on the rules of Mrs. Fry’s Nursing
Sisters’ Institution. Ten per cent. on the payments is devoted to
superannuation fund. Persons desirous of being engaged as nurses must be
Protestants, and willing to attend the Church of England services. The strictest
enquiries will be made as to their previous moral character, and no one need
apply who is unwilling to undertake the menial offices that may be required in a
sick room, Candidates are received on probation or for training for not less a
period than three months; they pay an entrance fee of £2, which is returned to
them if they engage with the institution, but not otherwise. Probationers, after
three months’ training in an asylum, or, if already trained for mental
nursing, a trial in the home and at cases, are engaged as nurses. They then
promise to serve for three years, which engagement they cannot break, except on
giving three months’ notice to the superintendent, and on paying a fine of £6.
This engagement is renewable, where the testimonials and conduct have been
satisfactory, every three years for a like period. They are allowed an annual
stipend of £20, which is raised to £23 after three years’ service; £26
after six years’ service; ~£29 after nine years’ service; supplied with
an appropriate dress, and maintained in the home provided for them during the
intervals of their engagement. At the end of twelve years they have a
superannuation pension of £20 a year when the fund allows. The nurses are
engaged from the age of twenty-five; if younger, a reduction is made in their
salaries. Families sending for nurses are required, before the expiration of six
weeks, when the payment becomes due, to renew their application for the
nurse to continue in attendance. The payments for nurses are to be sent every
six weeks to the superintendent; but strangers are expected to apply at the end
of the first month for permission for a nurse to remain, and to send their six
weeks’ payment if they wish her to do so. The nurses are sent out at regular
charges, which cannot be lowered. As the institution is supported by the
nurses’ earnings, it would be impossible to do charity at their expense.
Persons employing nurses are at liberty to exchange them, if unsuited in any way
to the case of the invalid; but attendants are not allowed to leave their charge
without permission. When a nurse is discharged from an infectious case, fifteen
shillings must be paid to her for lodging, as for the safety of others she
cannot return home until danger of infection has ceased. The nurses are not
permitted
to receive mourning or presents (except a book as a trifling remembrance),
directly or indirectly, from the patients or families on whom they attend;
those who wish to express gratitude for benefits received can best do so by
contributing to the superannuation fund. The nurses of this institution are
only engaged to attend on ladies.
LONDON
ASSOCIATION OF NURSES, 62, New Bond-street; branch office, 86, Kennington-park.
road. — Number of nurses, 200. Terms, from £1 1s. to £4 4s. per week.
Medical nurses, from £1 1s. to £2 2s. per week; mental nurses, from £1 1s. to
£3 3s. per week; monthly nurses, prom £4 4s. to £21 per month; surgical
nurses and male attendants, from £2 2s. to £3 3s. per week ; fever and
smallpox nurses, £1 1s. to £3 3s. per week. In this association the nurses are
not paid by salary, but receive their earnings. Firth’s Home Hospitals
for the Well-to-do—In connection with the Association of Nurses there
are “Home Hospitals,” where patients can be received under the care of
their own physicians, each patient being provided with a separate room. Hospital
No. 1: For medical and surgical non-infectious cases. Hospital No. 2: A country
house, with large garden, for convalescents. Hospital No. 3 : For the
reception of convalescents from infectious diseases. Hospital No. 4 : For the
cure of inebriates. Terms, from £4 4s. to £12 12s. per week, according to
nursing and accommodation required. Address of hospitals given only to patients
or their friends. Male attendants and medical rubbers always in readiness. There
is no danger of infection being carried by nurses from this association, as
those nurses whose specialty it is to attend infectious cases are never in
contact with those who do not. Nurses are supplied to the poor as well as to the
rich. The advantages to nurses of this association are, that through it they
hear of more regular work than if not thus registered, and that the earnings
belong to themselves. The terms upon which the hospital-trained nurses work
vary; some are willing to accept
15s. per week, others are paid from £1 1s. to £4 4s. per week. Wet nurses are
carefully selected, and super vision is given to the persons and places where
their infants are placed. Any form of application, per letter or telegram,
stating the class of nurse required, will receive attention, day or night.
METROPOLITAN AND NATIONAL NURSING
ASSOCIATION FOR PROVIDING TRAINED NURSES FOR THE SICK POOR, the
Superintendent-General, 23, Bloomsbury-square.—Terms, gratis. Where artisans
or others are able, they contribute small sums weekly. No cases are nursed where
the patient is able to board and pay a resident nurse. There is no rule with
respect to creed. Any lady can attend any church or chapel that she pleases.
Ladies when trained live in a district home under a Lady superintendent trained
like themselves. These homes are arranged and furnished suitably for
gentlewomen, and ladies are at liberty—when the work for the day is done—to
dine out, or to spend the evening as they please. Ladies are required to dress
for the evening, as they would naturally do in their own homes. The following
are the principal regulations: Nurse candidates will be selected by the
sup.gen., and received into the central home of the association, where they will
reside for a month on trial. If considered suitable, the candidate will pass on
from the central home to the hospital training school where they will be
admitted as a probationer, and receive a year’s training. On the satisfactory
completion of the hospital course the probationer will return to the central
home for further training in the practice of district nursing, combined with
technical class instruction, for a period of three months, and her training
will usually then be considered to be completed. The probationer who has
completed her training to the satisfaction of the committee will be placed
upon the staff of the association. Nurses so trained will be expected to
continue
in the service of the association for a period of three years, dating from the
completion of their training, and if they wish to terminate their engagement,
either at the end of that period or subsequently, will be required to give three
months notice in writing. The nurse’s engagement may be terminated on the part
of the association at any time by three months notice. Nurse candidates, upon
admission to the home, will pay 5s, to cover the expense of board, lodging, and
washing, during their month’s trial. No claim will be admitted for the return
of any portion of this sum in the event of their not remaining the whole time.
Probationers will pay, for maintenance during their year’s training in the
hospital training school, £30, by two instalments: viz. £15 upon admission
to the hospital school, and £15 at the expiration of six months after
admission. The about payment for maintenance in the hospital school is based
upon an arrangement made with the committee of the Nightingale Fund, and
applies only to St. Thomas’s Hospital. The probationer will be provided with
full board, including the usual extras, an allowance of 1s. 6d. a week for
washing, a uniform dress, a separate furnished bedroom, and a sitting-room in
common. The instruction being provided at the expense of the Nightingale Fund
will not be charged for, except in the event of withdrawal or dismissal.
Probationers,
upon re-entry into the home, will pay in advance £14; viz. £9 for maintenance
during their further training (whether for three months or longer), and £5 as a
fee towards the expenses of class instruction, books, &c. Probationers who
satisfy the committee that they are unable to make the above payments will be
allowed to postpone the payment of the whole or a portion until after the
completion of their training, upon their entering into an undertaking to repay
the amount by quarterly instalments, to be deducted from their salary, but so
that if the engagement ceases from any cause, then the whole sum or the balance
then due shall become payable at once. The total payments being then £44, the
repayments shall be made as follows: £14 during the first year, £15 during the
second and £15 during the third. Nurses on the staff of the association will
receive a salary, payable quarterly, and commencing on their return to the
central home from the hospital, of £35 for the first year, £38 for the second
year, and so on increasing £3 every year until it reaches £50. The annual
increase
will depend upon the duties being satisfactorily performed. Nurses will, as a
rule, reside in one of the homes of the association, and they will be provided
with full board, including the usual extras; an allowance of 2s, 5d. a week for
washing, and uniform dress; a separate bedroom furnished; and sitting and
dining-rooms in common. Nurses will be required to wear, when on duty, the
uniform dress adopted by the association. The association reserves the right
of requiring the nurse to subscribe to a pension fund, the annual payment to any
such fund not to exceed one-sixth of the nurse’s salary.
NORTHERN
BRANCH OF THE METROPOLITAN AND NATIONAL NURSING ASSOCIATION FOR PROVIDING
TRAINED NURSES FOR THE SICK POOR IN THEIR OWN HOMES, 413, Holloway-road, London,
N—Four nurses maximum number for this branch. Terms: Free to the sick poor in
their own homes. Cases of another class taken on payment. No recommendation
needed. Cases are seen by request of the patients, or by friends of patients,
clergy, district visitors, &c.; and most frequently by doctors who desire
the assistance of hospital-trained nurses out of hospital, but no case is taken
on the books until the superintendent has approved it as one requiring treatment
of a kind only to be given by a skilled hand. No case nursed unless a doctor is
in attendance. The nurses are ladies by birth and education, and have all
received one year’s training in hospital, and subsequently six months’
special training for district work under the superintendent-general of the
association at the Central Home, 23, Bloomsbury-square. where she passes
examinations in hygiene, physiology, and anatomy, before being passed on to a
district home, where they work from house to house under doctor’s orders; the
district superintendent of each home being responsible for the proper nursing of
all the cases nursed from that home, and the nurses obeying doctor’s orders
under her guidance. The association is supported by voluntary contributions.
The nurses are all paid, one of the objects of the association being to provide
a suitable profession for educated gentlewomen.
OXFORD
INSTITUTE FOR RESIDENT HOSPITAL TRAINED NURSES, 298 & 299, Oxford-street.
Number of nurses, 50. Terms, £1 1s. per week. In connection with this there is
a disinfecting cottage, where nurses for all contagious diseases reside. A
superior educated class of nurse only kept. It is requested of those who may
avail themselves of nurses from this institute that the following rules be
observed: That the nurse always receive that consideration and attention which
may be expected by a person who is contributing essentially to the comfort of a
sick member of the family. That, where possible, her meals be not taken in the
sick room. That her meals be cooked for her, and that her diet include two
half-pints of ale, or two glasses of port wine daily, but no spirits unless
specially ordered by the medical attendant, and extra tea, coffee, or cocoa,
when the nurse is sitting up at night; or, as so many of the nurses are total
abstainers, 3s. 6d. per week stimulant money is charged in lieu of the above.
That, when the nature of the case will admit of it, the nurse be allowed to go
out daily for one hour, and if required to sit up at night, be permitted to go
to bed for six hours during the afternoon, out of the sick room. The nurse can
sit up every night for many weeks, if this be done. Laundry, cab, stimulant
money, and all travelling expenses of the nurse or attendant to be defrayed by
the families engaging, and paid to the nurse or attendant (but not the service
money, which must be sent to the superintendent, with the 24 hours’ notice of
dismissal). For medical, surgical, or monthly cases, the nurses wear washing
dresses, white caps, white aprons linen collars and cuffs; and should the
washing not be done by the family laundress, a charge of 2s. 6d. per week is
made. Fever and small-pox cases, 3s. 6d. per week. Mental nurses, who do not
wear washing dresses, 2s. per week; and all nurses, excepting mental, who do not
wear washing dresses in the sick room, not to have washing money. The nurses
must conform with the usages of the house in which they are located, and any
irregularity of conduct should be immediately reported to the institute.
Ordinary medical diseases, from £1 1s. to £1 10s. per week. Zymotic or
contagious diseases, £2 2s. Simple surgical cases, from £1 1s. to £1 10s.
Severe surgical injuries, major operations in surgery, &c, £2 2s. Female
attendants: Mental diseases without violence, from £1 1s. to £1 10s.; acute
or suicidal mania, £2 2s. Male attendants: Insanity, unaccompanied by violence,
£2 2s.; acute mania, delirium tremens, or suicidal tendency, £3 3s. In
obstetric cases, the terms are from £5 5s. to £15 15s per month. Fever nurses
reside in a separate house. In all contagious cases one weeks additional fee is
charged as disinfecting money. NB. Monthly nurses are never sent to contagious
or infectious disorders.
ST.
JOHN’S NURSING COMMUNITY, 8, Norfolk-street, Strand. —Over 200 nurses.
From £1 1s. to £2 2s. per week. Nurses (sick or monthly) sent to any (but
mental) cases, at home or abroad, on application to the lady superior. St.
John’s Home supplies the nursing staff at Kings College and Charing-cross
Hospitals, and has a maternity home at 7, Ashburnham-road, Chelsea, for the
reception of poor respectable married women, and for the training of monthly
nurses. Ladies and respectable women received for training in all branches of
nursing.
ST.
KATHARINE’S KENSINGTON AND FULHAM DISTRICT NURSES’ HOME, 62, Warwick-road,
Earl’s-court, SW—Indefinite number of nurses. Terms, gratis. An association
of ladies. They live together, and are trained to work as nurses among the sick
poor, under a hospital sister holding first-class certificates as a trained
nurse. These ladies are sent out to nurse the sick poor gratuitously in their
homes; they teach them to nurse their own sick, and by introducing a knowledge
of common, sanitary laws, show them how to prevent disease. In cases of
destitution, nourishment and sick comforts are provided, and such remedies as
may be required, which are supplied by a dispensary established at the home,
for the benefit of patients recommended by the clergy and medical men. An
invalid kitchen for convalescents as open on Tuesday and Friday, and various
other charities are attached to, and worked from the home. Supported by
voluntary contributions.
ST.
MARY MAGDALENE’S HOME FOR TRAINED NURSES, 3, Delamere-crescent, Paddington
W. Twenty - five nurses. Terms: £1 1s. weekly.
WESTMINSTER
TRAINING SCHOOL AND HOME FOR NURSES, 8, Broad-sanctuary, Westminster
(temporary); home to be built in Victoria. street, S.W Founded (1874) by Lady
Augusta Stanley. —Number of nurses vanes, at present 43. Terms: All the
nurses are paid: sums vary from £16 to £30. Three years’ engagement after
one month’s trial on both sides. The intention of the founders was to provide
better nursing for the Westminster Hospital, and superior women as sick nurses
in private families. The following are the principal regulations: That the
charge for the services of a nurse for each week (or any part of a week) be £1
10s., and that the limit of attendance upon a case be 3 months: that for any
further period (if allowed) the weekly charge be double. That travelling
expenses and washing be paid by the family employing the nurse. In infectious
cases £1 to be paid to provide temporary lodgings for the nurse. That the
committee do not undertake chronic cases, and that when under special
circumstances they consent to continue attendance upon a case beyond the limit
of 3 months, it be clearly understood they can only do so at the advanced rate.
That all applications be made personally or in writing to the lady-supt. That
where it as possible, three days’ notice of the nurse’s return to the home
be sent to the lady.supt., and that in every case a report be sent, sealed up,
with a candid statement of the nurse’s conduct and efficiency either from
one of the family or the medical attendant, together with the amount to be paid
to the institution. That patients and their friends be earnestly requested not
to offer any money-gratuity to the nurse; it being the wish of the committee to
cultivate disinterested service to all alike. A superannuation fund exists for
the benefit of the nurses in old age or sickness, and to that fund exclusively,
in the absence of any special directions, will be applied all contributions from
patients and their friends, when they may be pleased to give anything out of
gratitude for the services of a nurse from this institution, in addition to the
amount paid for her services. That should any such donor express a wish that a
portion of his gift be applied to the benefit of a particular nurse, that
portion (not exceeding one-third) be reserved by the treasurer, and become her
property on the satisfactory completion of her term of service. That no wine or
spirits be given to the nurse unless at the request of the medical attendant.
That the nurse be allowed reasonable time for rest in every 24 hours, and that
when her services are required at night, she be allowed at least 6 hours of
consecutive rest out of the sick-room in the day. That no nurse be sent to sleep
out of the house where she is nursing without the consent of the lady-supt.
That the nurse be required to wear the dress provided by the training school.
That, in any case of difficulty or disability arising, the family is requested
to apply immediately to the lady-supt. of the home. Regulations as to
probationary training :—Young women desirous to be so trained, should
apply personally, if possible, to the lady-supt. of the training school, 8,
Broad Sanctuary. It is desirable that the ages of candidates should be between
25 and 35. Testimonials of health and character, according to forms supplied by
the lady-supt. will be required, and when satisfactory, and as vacancies occur,
the applicants will be received as probationers. Probationers will be under the
direction and authority of the lady. supt. and the rules of the training school,
and whilst at work in the hospital must obey and recognise all rules of that
institution. Probationers will be supplied with board, lodging, and washing.
If retained, the wages, in the first year, of a probationer will be £16, of
which a portion may be retained until the completion of her year of probation,
as guarantee of her good behaviour, and subject to forfeiture in case of
misconduct. Probationers will be required to conform to any regulations in
regard to uniformity in outer clothing. It is expected that at the end of a
year probationers will be fitted to be nurses, and their engagement will
require them to serve two years more in hospital or private nursing, with an
increase of £2 for each year. At the expiration of one month from the date of
entry, every probationer will be required to engage herself to continue in the
service for at least two years longer. The names of the probationers will be
entered on a register, in which a record will be kept of their conduct and
qualifications. The probationers will be subject to be discharged at any time by
the lady-supt. in case of misconduct, or should she think them inefficient or
negligent. The nurse or probationer must have good English education. She is to
keep her own room neat, clean, and in order, in the home, as well as to assist
in the needlework. The duties of the nurses will be to attend both the rich and
the poor either in hospitals or private houses. All money received for the
services of nurses will belong to the fund of the training school. No nurse will
be permitted to receive any private remuneration in money or clothing. Nurses
and probationers will not be allowed to ask for or procure wine or spirits,
either in the home or elsewhere without the express recommendation of a medical
man and the knowledge of the lady-supt., but a sufficient allowance of beer or
porter to be taken at meals will be provided for them. Scale of charges for
private nursing:—The lowest charge for a visit, 5s. ; if the nurse is
absent more than three hours, 10s. 6d.; if the nurse be required to remain one
or more nights in the house, then for each week or part of a week, 30s. There
are special regulations for nurses engaged by the week. All travelling
expenses to be paid by the person engaging the nurse.
Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879