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10 Nurses in schools, coal towns and migrant camps

Bringing healthcare to rural America, 1900–50
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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.

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