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Medical Convention Report

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 8, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 34.

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Medical Convention Report

By L. A. Hansen

Nurses’ Training Schools

One of the recommendations adopted at our conventions, as already given in our report, favored the action of the fall council of 1914, relative to the limiting of the number of nurses’ training schools. The action reads as follows:—
“Recognizing the need of greater efficiency in our nurses’ training courses, and believing that the present number of denominational training schools could be reduced to advantage,—
“We recommend, 1. That the boards and faculties of our nurses’ training schools give careful study to improving their courses, and that they bring them to the standard of requirement adopted at the 1913 session of the General Conference.
“2. That the number of training schools be reduced, and the remaining schools so improved that there shall be acceptable schools, if desirable, in each of the following union conferences, as may be arranged by their respective committees: Atlantic, one; Columbia, one; Lake, one; Northern, one; Central, two; North Pacific, one; Pacific, two.
“3. That all nurses’ training schools be brought to the required standard before Sept. 1, 1916, or make such affiliation with other schools as to give their students a proper training, and failing in this, to discontinue the training of nurses.”
The discussion of this question at the conventions was quite full and thorough. There was not a unanimous opinion as to the advisability of reducing the number of training schools. Those conducting schools naturally felt solicitous for them, and, in some instances, were opposed to any action that threatened their existence. Favorable action on the recommendation was taken at two of the conventions, while at the other it was voted to refer the question to the coming fall council of the North American Division Conference.
In addition to what has already been reported, we give the following from the discussions on training school work:—
Dr. T. D. Shively believed that a high standard of training should be adopted and maintained, and that it would result in self-elimination of such schools as cannot meet the standard.
Dr. H. W. Miller suggested plans of affiliation between institutions that do not operate training schools and those that do operate them. This would necessitate standardization of all schools. In order to unify, it would be necessary to yield a little here or there.
L. A. Hansen suggested that if the financial side of the question was given careful study and due weight, the discontinuance of the training school would be regarded more favorably. Were the matter closely investigated, it would be found that there is a heavy expense involved in carrying on our nurses’ educational work. It is estimated that this represents about $200,000 annually, taking into account board, room, tuition, laundry, books, uniforms, and wages in some instances, besides such other expense as may be incurred by carrying the extra help necessary to a student body. This sum is not met by the parents of students, as is the case in other schools. No money comes to the sanitarium directly to pay the cost. It is met by the labor of the student, and it depends largely upon the efficiency of that labor and the effective management of the institution to make such labor remunerative. That the returns are not ample to cover the outlay has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of several who have given the matter study. Institutions struggling under financial burdens would do well to give careful thought to the financial advantage offered in the recommendation. In some instances it is already being proved that it is cheaper to operate with graduate help than to conduct a training school.
R. A. Underwood thought that if finances were seriously affected in the matter and there was really a gain to be effected, the matter should have careful consideration.
I. H. Evans: “We are likely to do things carelessly. There was a time when the more business we did in our publishing houses, the more money we were losing. There came a time when we investigated the matter, to ascertain where our losses were. We found certain books being sold in large numbers at an actual loss. It was proposed to raise the price on the literature. Serious objections were offered, but it was done, and our publishing houses have since earned money. Was it not well that we investigated the matter and corrected the wrongs?
“Once we thought the more schools we could establish the better. About three years ago the matter was given consideration, and it was found that our colleges were running at a loss. When we found out what was the trouble and suggested radical changes, there were objections. But our investigations showed that we did not have enough college students to profitably utilize our colleges. It was decided to cut down the number of colleges. Of course there were objections. We found the same conditions regarding our twelve-grade schools, and when it was decided to cut down the number of these, there were objections. There were plenty of votes favorable to cutting down the other man’s school. Well, we took suitable action, and the results have shown the wisdom of that action.
“We found that we were losing more in our sanitarium work than in any other line of work. A finance commission was appointed to investigate, composed of three of our best men for such work, men of large experience. These men have visited our sanitariums, studying carefully their work. They have made definite recommendations, based on their findings as to our losses. They have shown us that training schools are operated at a loss. I was greatly surprised at this, having always supposed that we operated these training schools because they were a financial advantage.
“We find that our sanitariums are doing a lot of work at an actual loss, involving the denomination in heavy liabilities. We should carefully study how to prevent this. We should seek the remedy for this situation, and earnestly apply it. We must not go on as we are going. We should study economy in every possible way, and do all we can to liquidate this great indebtedness.
“If we recognize that our training schools are a loss to us, we should be willing to take such steps in cutting down their number as will help us. We must plan to carry on our work without going in debt. It is not right to operate our work on the debt plan. Nothing we have conducted on the cash basis has ever failed. [The cash policy of operating our foreign mission work was outlined, and lessons drawn from its good results.]
“I believe we can trust the Lord to furnish the money for any enterprise he wants us to undertake. If we wait on him in prayer and faith, he will send us the money, and we shall not have to borrow. We should expect people to give and not lend to the cause of God.”
W. T. Knox: “We can agree that we have been mistaken as to the profit in running training schools. We can agree as to the desirability of doing better work in the training schools we do operate. But we must come to the place of definite action, or we shall arrive at nothing better than we now see.
“Our investigations showed us in the case of one of our sanitariums that it was graduating nurses that were not given a training in all branches of nursing. The institution was doing considerable surgical work, and the training was largely surgical. I know of other sanitariums that, by reason of poverty or for other causes, have been turning out nurses that are not properly qualified for their work.
“We should give heed to what has been said concerning the errors of our work. What is aimed at in these recommendations is to remedy actual conditions, and we should be willing to relate ourselves to them in a way that will actually help.”
L. A. HANSEN.