An Experiment in Mental Nursing

Abstract

IN the state of Washington a very sincere effort is being made to provide graduate nursing care for mental patients and at the same time to educate graduate nurses in the field of psychiatric nursing. At the Northern State Hospital located at Sedro Woolley, where there is a census of about 1,500 patients of all types except the criminally insane, an experiment in graduate nursing service is being carried out. Dr. E. C. Ruge, superintendent of the hospital, in his effort to follow present-day trends and make the hospital a therapeutic institution, recognized the value which good nursing care contributed to such a program. After consultation with various nurses of the state it was thought unwise to organize a basic course in nursing for women at this hospital. It was decided to first promote postgraduate courses in mental nursing and later, when there were sufficient supervisors well trained in psychiatry, to offer affiliation to general hospitals for their undergraduates. The Department of Nursing Education at the University of Washington, following its policy of meeting the needs of the community, assisted in organizing the postgraduate course and through the Extension Service of the university is offering classes which give academic credit. The Department of Nursing Education assumes responsibility for the teaching program, and the superintendent of nurses and other teachers are appointed as instructors in Extension.