Poised and Prepared: Lillian Wald and the Henry Street Settlement Visiting Nurses' Response to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic in New York City
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic brings to light surprising similarities to the 1918 influenza pandemic, one of the deadliest outbreaks in United States history. Over 100 years later, the United States is faced with a novel virus causing a worldwide pandemic although our care is hindered by a lack of knowledge and clinical resources available to serve our communities (Vessey & Betz, 2020). Today, as in 1918, skilled nursing services are essential if we are to decrease morbidity and mortality within and outside our health systems. As we examine the COVID-19 pandemic, the insufficient numbers of public health nurses available today lend itself to the following question: How did the leadership of Lillian Wald and the work of the visiting nurses at the Henry Street Settlement address the needs of the community in New York City during the 1918 pandemic? This case study examined Lillian Wald's and the Henry Street Settlement Visiting Nurse’s response in New York City to the 1918 influenza pandemic. The project spans the years from 1893 through the second wave of the influenza pandemic, from September through December of 1918. A historical social framework was used. Historical methods were used for data collection, interpretation of sources, immersion of the materials, and the development of chronological themes. Primary sources included archived materials including the Lillian Wald Papers in the New York City Public Library; Pocket Knowledge from Teacher’s College, Columbia University; Lillian Wald Papers in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University; records of the National Organization of Public Health Nurses located at the Rockefeller Archive Center in Pocantico, NY; as well as newspapers, books, journals, and other archived documents. Results of the study indicated that Wald’s leadership and the Henry Street Settlement Visiting Nurse Service were valued by demonstrating practices in epidemiology, infection control, disease management, preventive education, and home visiting that prepared for an effective nursing response. Lessons learned can guide leadership in areas of population health and management, disease prevention, and infection control, all necessary interventions during a pandemic and in familiar practices of public health nursing.
Subject Area
Nursing|Epidemiology|American history
Recommended Citation
Wanyo, Carol, "Poised and Prepared: Lillian Wald and the Henry Street Settlement Visiting Nurses' Response to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic in New York City" (2021). ETD Collection for Pace University. AAI28770044.
https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI28770044
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