10 Nurses in schools, coal towns and migrant camps
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John Kirchgessner
Abstract
This chapter examines the public health nurses' roles in meeting the healthcare needs of citizens in the rural areas of the United States of America during the first half of the twentieth century. It presents three case studies, illustrating the work of nurses in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and California in the years 1900 to 1950. The nurses' work with school children, coal miners and migrant workers is examined against the backdrop of economic, social, political, racial and healthcare forces. School nurses in Virginia and West Virginia provided the needed care to children through innovative school health programmes. Like school nurses, industrial nurses working in coal mining towns also provided access to healthcare for rural Americans. Coal town nurses, employed by the coal mining companies, sought to provide health education and promote access to basic healthcare to the coal miners and their families.
Abstract
This chapter examines the public health nurses' roles in meeting the healthcare needs of citizens in the rural areas of the United States of America during the first half of the twentieth century. It presents three case studies, illustrating the work of nurses in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and California in the years 1900 to 1950. The nurses' work with school children, coal miners and migrant workers is examined against the backdrop of economic, social, political, racial and healthcare forces. School nurses in Virginia and West Virginia provided the needed care to children through innovative school health programmes. Like school nurses, industrial nurses working in coal mining towns also provided access to healthcare for rural Americans. Coal town nurses, employed by the coal mining companies, sought to provide health education and promote access to basic healthcare to the coal miners and their families.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Preface xiv
- Introduction 1
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Part I Care and cure in nursing work
- 1 Baby and infant healthcare in Dresden, 1897–1930 21
- 2 The taste of war 35
- 3 ‘In the company of those similarly afflicted’ 52
- 4 ‘Hurting and caring’ 69
- 5 A poverty of leadership 82
- 6 Beyond the cuckoo’s nest 100
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Part II Public health and nursing work
- 7 The cholera epidemic of 1892 and its impact on modernising public health and nursing in Hamburg 123
- 8 ‘Some kindred form of medical social work’ 144
- 9 ‘Community healthcare’ 163
- 10 Nurses in schools, coal towns and migrant camps 180
- Index 200
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Preface xiv
- Introduction 1
-
Part I Care and cure in nursing work
- 1 Baby and infant healthcare in Dresden, 1897–1930 21
- 2 The taste of war 35
- 3 ‘In the company of those similarly afflicted’ 52
- 4 ‘Hurting and caring’ 69
- 5 A poverty of leadership 82
- 6 Beyond the cuckoo’s nest 100
-
Part II Public health and nursing work
- 7 The cholera epidemic of 1892 and its impact on modernising public health and nursing in Hamburg 123
- 8 ‘Some kindred form of medical social work’ 144
- 9 ‘Community healthcare’ 163
- 10 Nurses in schools, coal towns and migrant camps 180
- Index 200
