New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-01
NURSES ALARMED.
Plan Crusade against Doscling Bill
Noso in Senate.

The nurses OF New-York State are UP IN arms
against a bill regulating the practice Of nursing
which is now before the State Legislature. hav-
ing been introduced in the Senate last week by
Senator Edward Bowling and in the Assembly
by Assemblyman Charles Cooper. law regu-
lating the registration of nurses and the stand
ards of training schools has been in operation
for the last three years and the nurses arc al a
loss 20 see why another system should be sub
stituted for IL.
I'VE think" remarked Miss Annie Damer,
president OF the State Nurses Association. yes
terday, that the present bill is merely scheme
TO create high salaried positions for a few men.
The bin. il seems, provides for a State COM
mission OF nursing, with appropriation OF
$4,000 annually for the salaries of commits
sioner, deputy commissioner and secretary, be-
sides travelling expenses estimated at $1,000 an
nuaIIy. An Office in Albany, with such clerical
force as may be necessary" would be provided
for out Of the fees OF the nurses. The present
law is administered by the Department Of
sDoucation, and the nurses consider 1t fully oom-
petent 70 continue the task.
; Senator Dowling's bill also provides for an
examining board Of medical men, instead Of
nurses. and 10 this the nurses streruously OBJ
sects as they have objected IN every State where
q nurses registration law is in operation.
Candidates for admission 10 any profession
should be examined by members of that pro-
fession and not OF another one. and doctors are
not nurses" said Miss Damer. This, perhaps,
has been recognized in every other State where
registration laws exist. with the exception of
North Carolina, where there IS mixed board
of doctors and nurses. When our own law
passed the State Medical Society declared in
favor OF nurse examiners and for this and other
reasons We count their opposition 10 this bill.
although have not been formally assured
Of IT,"
Another Objectionable feature OF the bill 10
the nurses is that il has no waiver" The pres
ent law allowed nurses practising at the time Of
its passage and up 10 April y Of the present
year 10 register without examination. Senator
Dowling's bill has waiver and would compel
al nurses 20 take the examination hereafter to
be provided for.
The hin further provides for the inspection OF
nursing schools the fixing Of the standard and
the regulation OF the hours Of work and recrea-
ton OF the nurses. All this is being done in a
general way under the present law, and a model
curriculum. which for the present will be only
suggestive, has been prepared by a council of
nurses and Is now ready for distribution
The nurses argue that Senator Dowling's bill
IS in great part merely a duplication of the
present law, and that in the points wherein IL
DO not think that it has any serious backing,
and conjecture that ii eTnanates from few in
dividuals who may have private interests TO
serve.
The campaign is in charge of the legislative
committee, Of which Mrs. Marion Brockway is
chairman
Or. Egbert lie Fevre. dean Of the New-York
University and Bellevue Hospital Medical Col
lege, went to Albany yesterday on sons legis-
lative business in which the State Medical So
depend upon him TO interest himself at the same
time their behalf,