The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-31

The Graduate Nurses association held an important meeting on Saturday at the Hillman hospital at which several changes in regard to the Nurses Registry were made and some proposed changes in the constitution were discussed. In a circular letter sent some days ago to the members of the association it was stated that among the matters to be brought to their consideration would be the im- posing of fines on all members who were diliatory in reporting to the registry thereby hindering it's effectiveness.
 In order to make the registry more eff fective the association has decided to in future impose a fine upon those nurses who fail to report to the registry.
 Another important question that came up for consideration was that of having a special telephone placed at the Doster- Northington company, where the registry is established, which shall be listed as the Nurses Registry. This telephone will be put in by the end of the week and calls for nurses will receive prompt attention both day and night.
 In the past the nurses have reported to MT. J. A Yates, who has been in charge ot the registry, but in future they are asked to report promptly to MT. L. P. Lester at the registry, and he will notify nurses whenever calls are left for them. It is thought that all confusion will be avoided by having q special telephone and that through the new arrangement the registry will be more satisfactory to both the nurses and the doctors.
 The proposed change In the constitution effects the conditions under which nurses are admitted to the association. Under the present membership clause all ap- plicants must have their diplomas passed upon by committee of nurses and also they are required to show certificates from a committee of six doctors stating that their practical work is satisfactory.
 Ii is now proposed to conduct an exami- nation in stead of requiring nurses to se- cure a doctors certificate regarding their practical work the examination to be conducted by committee of nurses. but the questions are to be submitted by committee of doctors.
 In the event that the change In the constitution is made the result will be to draw the lines still closer In regard to the registry, to make 1t more difficult for inefficient nurses to be admitted and easier for the competent nurse.
 In many cases new nurse comes to the city with diplomas from recognized training schools. but until she has been here a sufficient length of time to have become well known to the committee of doctors appointed to pass upon her prac- tical work. she is entirely debarred from membership in the Graduate Nurses as- sociation.
 Her diploma entities her to recogni- ton, but the present constitution makes 1t necessary for her to be personally known to the joint committee of doctors before she can register. The examination is considered by many of the members to be the only method by which the new nurses may, without loss of time. be ad- mitted to membership. and at the same time the standards of the registry will be maintained.
 This question will be considered at the regular meeting of the Graduate Nurses association the second Saturday in Mo- vember and t will require a two-thirds vote to change the constitution.