The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1911-09-22
BAR NEGRO NURSES FROM
STANDING AN EXAMINATION.

BAR NEGRO NURSES FROM
STANDING AN EXAMINATION
New State Board Thinks Law is for
Whites Only-First Session is on
Gov. Hooper has Attention Called
to Matter, and Points Out lIegality
of Action.
Negro nurses who presented them
selves before the board of examiners
of nurses, which began a three-days' i
session here Monday, were informed |
by the board that no colored nurses
were wanted nor would they be given |
the right to wear the coveted "R. N"
which means registered nurse.
Some of the colored nurses who pre-
scented themselves possessed more
than the statutory requirements, in
some instances having taken three
years course in the Meharry Medical
College, which has a hospital attach
ed when the law only requires two
years
The drawing of the color line Great
ed quite stir. The board was Great
ed by an act of the last legislature,
after a group of nurses had been
hammering at the legislative door
for two or three terms, in season and
out of season. The present meeting
is the first one held. At the opening
dash the board claims that the color
of the applicant must be stated in
the certificate, thus in almost direct
| language extending the examinations
to both races.
Gov. Hooper DisapproVes.
The refusal of the board was called
to the attention of Gov Hooper, who
it as reported, did not approve of
the action taken When asked regard
ing the incident Gov Hooper said:
81 have not as yet had an oppor-
tunity to confer with any member of
the examining board, and, perhaps,
my views would be merely persuasive.
If the board has denied these nurses
registration simply on account of their
race, as | am reliably informed they
have, their action is illegal There
is nothing in the law which limits its
application to white nurses and ex-
cludes colored ones from its benefits.
1t requires two-year course of study
and training for those that are regis
tered without examination, but these
i colored nurses have taken three
year course"
"The statute in prescribing the de-
scription to be given of each regis
, tered nurse, says that along with age
sex, etc, the color must be stated.
Members of the colored race have
not been debarred from practising
dentistry and medicine in Tennessee
f and are compelled to comply with
the same statutory requirements as
the whites The object of these law:
is to provide competent persons tt
minister in all these professions tt
! both races There is nothing in the
, law or elsewhere that will oblige any
, individual to engage the services of {
, nurse of a different race, but it il
! wise and just that the colored nurses
! should be given every opportunit!
, and encouragement to prepare them
: selves for efficient service to the sicl
9 and suffering to whose aid they ma.
o be called. -
! Without Litigation.
;. 81 am sorry this misunderstood
+ ing has arisen and trust that it will
o be adjusted without the necessity o
y of litigation"
i Whether or not the calling of al
tention to the law by Governor HOOP
o er will have any influence, remains t
q be seen. The following is the CON
Q position of the board Mrs. l.. A
), Warner, Memphis, president; Miss NJ