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DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING

There are many things which the people of the State of New Hampshire have just reason to be proud of; one of them is the Public Health Nursing Service which has developed during the last few years.

New Hampshire stands second in the entire country in this field. This fact was made evident through a survey made by the Director of the Division about a year ago at the request of the National Organization for Public Health Nursing. In every county in the State, earnest and devoted women are working tirelessly and steadfastly for the good of the people in their communities. Every phase of public health nursing is being carried on.

Bedside Nursing. Caring for the sick and disabled, teaching the gospel of good health and right living to the family, showing a mother, wife or sister how to best comfort and care for a relative, giving courage and often arranging for material relief are a daily part of bedside nursing.

The duties of the nurses
Their tasks are not easy

General Public Health Nursing. belonging to this group are many. and are manifold, owing to the fact that they endeavor to cover every phase of public health nursing, often in rural sections over a wide territory, rough roads and in all kinds of weather and frequently at night.

Child Hygiene Nurses. This group of nurses carry on a highly specialized nursing service, devoting their entire time to prenatal, infant and child care. Children's health conferences, correction of defects, toxin-antitoxin clinics, instructing the mothers in regard to the care of themselves and the welfare of the children, teaching mothers' and young girls' classes, laying a magnificent foundation for the future citizens of our State.

Tuberculosis Nurses. The County Tuberculosis Nursing Service is also a specialized one. In each County, case-finding, clinics and educational work is being persistently and effectively carried on month by month. The nurses by their teaching and early case-finding are protecting every home in the State from the ravages of this terrible disease.

School Nurses. The majority of schools in New Hampshire benefit greatly by the full or part time services of a school nurse. This group of nurses is steadily gaining in numbers year by year. The school nurse is now looked upon as an indispensable part of the school system; her duties are varied-health teaching, preventive work, examination of children, correction of defects, corrective clinics and health instruction to teachers, children and parents are a part of the daily routine.

Industrial Nurses. Factories and mills have seen how important it is to have close at hand someone with a knowledge of both health and sickness. The industrial nurse is in close contact with employers and employees and by her advice is able to be of the greatest help to both. She visits the homes of men and women who are absent, frequently gives bedside care and is often called upon in emergencies to render first aid.

Communicable Disease Control. Nurses are employed by Boards of Health to investigate and report on contagious and infectious diseases, arrange and assist at clinics, taking of cultures and do the needful follow-up work in instructing the family in sanitation, isolation, prophylaxis and in the care of the patient.

The Public Health Nurses throughout the State are giving wonderful assistance to the entire State program. A very efficient system of follow-up work with the preschool child has been put into operation. Index cards are sent monthly from the State Office to Public Health Nurses. On these cards are the names and addresses of preschool children in their community. Through this means a large per

centage of children under seven years of age are under careful nursing supervision.

MAY DAY

May Day, or National Child Health Day, is now celebrated in every State in the Union. Its object is to lay special emphasis on the importance of Child Health. For the past two years, the State Supervising Nurse has acted as State Chairman, and practically every city and town in New Hampshire have participated in the event.

Last year a special chairman was appointed in each town to plan a program fitted to the needs of that particular place. The results were most gratifying. Some of the cities and many of the towns arranged wonderful programs, schools, churches, business firms, clubs and many individuals cooperating.

Our Governor issued à proclamation pointing out the importance of safeguarding the health of the child.

The April issue of the official bulletin of the State Board of Health was given over to plans and programs that might be helpful to chairmen. Letters were written to Superintendents of Schools, Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, explaining the general plan and asking for co-operation.

The May Day Slide was used in every Moving Picture House in the State.

Posters, moving pictures, moving picture machines and slides were loaned from the Exhibit Department to assist the local chairmen in making their programs a success.

Lectures on Child Health were broadcasted over the radio. With so many organizations and individuals working with a will, May Day was most successfully and effectively celebrated.

Nursing Survey. A survey was made last year to check up on Public Health Nursing in New Hampshire. This was done at the request of the National Organization for Public Health Nursing. A correctly filled in report was returned from every organization employing nurses. This work was

greatly aided through the efforts of the Child Hygiene and Tuberculosis Nurses of the State.

New England Health Institute. During the last week of September, the New England Health Institute was held at the State House in Concord. A splendid program was arranged; eminent and representative men and women in Public Health work responded to the invitation to be on the faculty. Several lectures were devoted to papers on Public Health Nursing. The last day was entirely given over to practical lectures and demonstrations on posture and was arranged especially for Public Health Nurses. The attendance was very good.

Conferences. Frequent conferences have been arranged for the staff nurses of the State Board of Health and the County Tuberculosis Nurses. These conferences are most helpful to the workers, as they give an opportunity for an exchange of opinions on the various phases of work being carried on. Plans are discussed and lectures by specialists are given on subjects applying to the daily work.

Sectional Conferences. In many of the rural sections of the State, the Public Health Nurses are necessarily more or less isolated from members of their own profession. During the past year, Sectional Conferences have been started in order that the nurses might become better acquainted with each other and with the various problems common to all. State workers have been present to point out the ways that State Departments and private health organizations may be of assistance to the individual nurse. This type of conference is of the greatest benefit to the general public health program.

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE DIVISION MATER

NITY, INFANCY AND CHILD HYGIENE

OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

CHILDREN'S BUREAU

REPORT OF EXPENDITURES OF STATE AGENCIES CO-OPERATING WITH THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, CHILDREN'S BUREAU, AS PRESCRIBED BY THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU

COMPLETE REPORT OF EXPENDITURES FROM APPROPRIATION FOR THE FISCAL

YEAR 1925

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