DUBUQUE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION

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DUBUQUE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION. The Educational Division of the DUBUQUE WOMEN'S CLUB began a campaign in 1909 to raise $1,200 to obtain the services of a visiting nurse in Dubuque. A previous effort on the part of local nurses in 1907 had been unsuccessful.(1)

The Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association was founded in February 1910, in response to Dubuque's poor health conditions, including the presence of typhoid fever and malaria. (2) Anna Blanche COOK, Mrs. George Kiesel and Mrs. Herbert Adams invited the Director of the Chicago VNA to Dubuque. As a result of a meeting at which the purpose of the VNA was explained, the Dubuque chapter was established. The charter board of directors, forty-two women, represented each of Dubuque's churches. Mrs. Ben Kaufman was the board's first president.

Miss Jessie Keys became the first staff member of the Dubuque VNA on May 1, 1910. (3) Keys served as director, nurse, and office secretary for fifty dollars per month. Her office was located at the RUETE DRUG STORE where she would arrive at 8:30 to deal with messages and meet with clients from noon until 1:00 p.m. (4) Funds for her salary and the purchase of supplies were raised by the board of directors. As the organization had no office, Harvey Gill, a druggist on Hill Street, took phone messages.

Keys' efforts initiated many programs in the city. The Open Window Room at PRESCOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL for handicapped students was later operated by the Board of Education. A school-nursing program was started at all schools; a hot lunch program was begun at the homes of board members who transported the meals to the school.

The VNA operated the Christmas Health Seal Sale. Camps for needy children, which were later operated by the YMCA-YWCA, DUBUQUE BOYS' CLUB and area scouting organizations, were first operated by the VNA using the grounds of WARTBURG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY and later the former home of James LANGWORTHY. In June 1911 the VNA held the first of Dubuque's FRESH AIR CAMPS for malnourished children and those needing medical care. (5) In 1916 Dubuque through the work of the VNA became one of only four cities in Iowa (Dubuque, Davenport, Keokuk and Des Moines) doing infant welfare work. (6) The Telegraph Herald in 1920 ran a daily health column directed by the VNA on how to stay healthy and prevent illness. (7) In 1936 Tuberculosis Health Seals were sold in Dubuque through the VNA. (8) Proceeds from the sale helped support the Open Window Rooms and Fresh Air Camps. Motherhood classes began being offered in 1948. (9) In an effort to stop the disease, the VNA made 749 home visits in 1942. (10)

In 1911 the Dubuque VNA established offices in the BANK AND INSURANCE BUILDING with operating costs raised by soliciting funds from local businesses. The VNA also contracted with Metropolitan Insurance Company, Aetna Life Insurance Company and the Women's Benefit Association to care for their policyholders. When rent was raised from twelve to twenty dollars, the VNA moved to a small office in the DUBUQUE CITY HALL. (11) Until 1958, when the first VNA fund drive was held, the activities of the organization were conducted at different sites throughout the community. Under the chairmanship of William GALLOGLY, the fund drive was able to raise sufficient money to allow the VNA to purchase a site for their organization at 412 Loras.

Although the Board of Directors in 1919 had discussed the advisability of purchasing an automobile for the organization's use, the first car was not purchased until 1935. Money for the automobile was raised by the VNA Junior Board, organized in 1932, which used funds from the "Follies of 1935." The first VNA Charity Ball was held at the DUBUQUE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB in 1947 under the sponsorship of the Junior Board. Since 1947 proceeds from the annual charity event have been used to purchase nine cars.

On November 1, 1981 as a result of federal Title X, the VNA loosened its patient requirements so that anyone needing their services was eligible. The VNA received its funding through the United Way, federal and state grants, Cancer Society, Dubuque County Social Services Department, Medicare, and patient fees. (12)

In 1984 in association with the local hospitals, the VNA sponsored colon cancer screenings. (13)

In 1996 the VNA and FINLEY HOSPITAL (THE) announced a corporation affiliation that would benefit both groups. At the time, the VNA had 93 nurses, home health aides, and social workers. (14)

The Visiting Nurses announced free or low-cost physicals in 1999 for kindergarten, school, sports, well-babies and well-baby immunizations. (15)

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Source:

1. "Raise Fund for Visiting Nurses," Telegraph Herald, November 11, 1909, p. 3. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cB9CAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a6oMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5326,1222460&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

2. Kruse, Len. "Visiting Nurses," My Old Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa: Center for Dubuque History-Loras College, 2000, p. 45

3. "Visiting Nurse Comes to Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, March 2, 1910, p. 8. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NilCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gKoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3602,3965534&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

4. "Visiting Nurse Comes to Town," Telegraph Herald, May 4, 1910, p. 3. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yW5CAAAAIBAJ&sjid=86oMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5897,2048847&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

5. "Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association Work," Telegraph Herald, August 6, 1916, p. 5. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PmZfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=418NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1890,7598525&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

6. Ibid.

7. "Visiting Nurses to Give Daily Health Talks in the Telegraph Herald," Telegraph Herald, July 18, 1920, p. 11. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rRNeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CWANAAAAIBAJ&pg=5582,1570222&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

8. Ibid., p. 46

9. "Visiting Nurse Association to Sponsor Motherhood Classes," Telegraph Herald, April 4, 1948, p. 24. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KE1hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2nQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2790,548792&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

10. "Dubuque TB Work Outlined," Telegraph Herald, December 6, 1942, p. 23. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yGBFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LLwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4638,2979492&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

11. "Visiting Nurses Occupy New Offices," Telegraph Herald, October 25, 1929, p. 17. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O51FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C70MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5227,1982428&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

12. Demerest, Dusti. "Visiting Nurse Group Loosen Income Rules," Telegraph Herald, January 2, 1982, p. 8. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H-lFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Uf4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5105,2476276&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

13. "Colon Cancer," Telegraph Herald, April 29, 1984, p. 18. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2RZFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VLsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3489,3606303&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

14. Gwiasda, Susan B. "Visiting Nurses, Finley to Form Partnership," Telegraph Herald, May 15, 1996, p. 2. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZVZFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CLwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6792,2178523&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

15. "Visiting Nurses Offer Free, Low-Cost Clinics," Telegraph Herald, February 13, 1999, p. 5. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=amRFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JLwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5050,2864146&dq=visiting+nurses+dubuque&hl=en

The 1987 Dubuque City Directory listed 15th and Iowa.