The Role of Nursing in the Influenza Epidemic of 1918?1919

Abstract

Just as the horrors of World War I were winding down, millions of people were stricken by an influenza epidemic that displaced war as the tragic focus of everyday life. The disease was known as the Spanish influenza and was pandemic in scope. Since the epidemic defied the capabilities of prevailing medicine, good nursing care was the best predictor of outcome. Nurses came to the rescue by working long, hard and tirelessly. One important outcome of the epidemic was a general recognition of the visiting nurse service and all nursing as a valuable and essential community service.

Implications of Pandemic Influenza for Bioterrorism Response

“…Influenza further reduced the pool of health care workers by infecting caregivers, pharmacists, and laboratory workers and other personnel [3,21,24] and by creating fear of contagion among some [23]. Community doctors faced tremendous caseloads, and public health nurses were frequently surrounded by throngs of tenement dwellers requesting help [22,26]. Druggists struggled to fill demands for prescription medications, and customers, des-perate for protection or relief, emptied pharmacy shelves of over-the-counter remedies (author's unpublished data).…”

“…Few in number, nurses were critical in alleviating the distress of Spanish flu: they provided comfort measures and reassurance, instructed families in basic care, and assisted with daily needs (e.g., laundry and cooking) [3,22,26]. Appealing to retired, private, and student nurses and women with any nursing experience, the Red Cross readied a network of professionals and volunteers for deployment in collaboration with the US Public Health Service and state health chiefs [3,27].…”

“…Facing extraordinary demand, hospitals lengthened staff hours, tasked student doctors and nurses with professional duties, discharged the least ill, accepted only urgent admissions, and prepared makeshift accommodations in halls, offices, porches, and tents [3,26]. Basic supplies (e.g., linens, mattresses, bedpans, and gowns) were sometimes difficult to obtain [23].…”

“…Basic supplies (e.g., linens, mattresses, bedpans, and gowns) were sometimes difficult to obtain [23]. Gymnasiums, state armories, parish halls, and other spaces served as emergency hospitals [3,4,26]. Many people languished at home, having neither strength nor opportunity to go to the hospital; social workers, visiting nurses, and Red Cross volunteers provided home health care as well as food, child care, and burial assistance to these patients and their families [26,29].…”

Influenza A viruses: an ecology review

“…Rather than having been able to control this infection, we have adapted ourselves and our behavior to minimize its damage when the flu season strikes (10, 11). Random introductions of novel viruses from the animal kingdom also continue to be a major health and economical problem for the human population, and several pandemic events have occurred during the 19th and 20th centuries including the notorious ‘Spanish Flu’ (12–14).…”