Historic Omaha

VISITING
NURSE
ASSOCIATION
HISTORIC OMAHA
104
There are few social service delivery
agencies with the pedigree, lore, and history
of good works as Omaha’s Visiting Nurse
Association. A good case could be made that
more lives have been saved through its efforts
than those of any other health profession.
Founded November 19, 1896 under the
guidance of Anna Millard, who had trained at
Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, the
VNA has had a greater historical impact on
the Omaha community in the last 106 years
than can be recorded here.
Poverty and poor health are sisters. Seeing a
tremendous need to minister to the poor, but
with no services available, the VNA began with
Millard making house calls from her own home
at 1818 Capitol Avenue. Others in the
community joined her cause, and soon the
organization had more work than volunteers.
The W. R. Adams home was the first
administrative headquarters, but growth and
demand led them through a plethora of
locations, including the Paxton Hotel and City
Hall. Substations were established on Lake
Street and in South Omaha, and new programs
implemented to meet health needs. One of their
first innovations was a “Diet Kitchen” staffed by
volunteers who assisted the nurses. Sewing
circles and the Needle Work Guild assisted in
supplying layettes, bedding and other linens.
Infant mortality was rampant. In 1910, at
least 589 babies died from sickness, 89 in
August alone. A tuberculosis nurse was added
in 1911, and a summer camp at Riverside
Park funded by donations was established for
sick babies. Under the supervision of nurses,
mothers learned to bathe sick children, give
enemas, and prepare formula or breast-feed. A
second camp opened in 1912 at Elmwood
Park. The year 1913 saw the devastating
Easter Sunday tornado. VNA hit the streets to
provide emergency aid. In 1915, two baby
stations were opened to treat both sick and
well babies. The Bee Milk and Ice Fund was
started at this time to supply milk and ice for
the babies. In 1920-21, preventive healthcare
became the focus, and four more stations
opened, but for well babies only. Sick children
were referred to physicians and dispensaries.
In 1918, one year after the end of World
War I, the Spanish Flu struck, killing millions
around the world. An Omaha doctor said,
“Without their aid God knows what the result
would have been. They have worked early and
late, cheerfully, happily. They have gone where
others feared or refused to go. Their assistance,
I believe, has saved hundreds of lives that
would possibly have been lost.” By its thirtieth
year, the VNA was providing many types of
care to people in Omaha: communicable
disease, orthopedic, prenatal and delivery, and
infant welfare and nutrition. Stations had been
added at Twentieth and Leavenworth and two
more at the South Omaha City Hall.
By 1929 the VNA staff had grown to thirty
nurses and begun receiving funds from