Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-12-20
MORE NURSES WANTED UPRISING GAINS FORCE
Twenty Thousand More Nurses Viii
Be Needed if War Continues An.
other Year Say The Authorities.

; Richmond. Dec. 20.--Miss Dorc L
Thompson, superintendent of til;
Army Nurse Corps, Mills Building
! Washington, in 4 statement which tht
Council of Defense has just received
! corrects an impression that has
gained some publicity to the effect
.l:at the army is fed up with nurses
How such impressions gain cur.
rcncy is still mystery, though not
such a mystery as formerly.
Miss Thompson emphasizes tie
need of more graduate nurses Tor
service both al home and over seas
She says:
In the course OF the next yeac,
with Il continuation of the war, 4;
east 10000 nurses will be required
n army hospitals at home and
abroad. OF the total number Of grad
latc nurses Of the country, appro,;i-
nateIy $4,000. only $500 have so "a.
occn assigned to duty in the army
service, and OF this number ! 800 are
n France.
1T is because the need is not m
lcrstood by the nurses Of the coun-
,ry that the Army Nurse Corps iack:
l proper nursing force today. Patriot.
c devotion runs nigh in the proic5-
sion and we have many letters fron
lurscs of all parts Of the country
declaring their intention and willing.
lcss 10 serve the Army, but th-st
women do not appear to understand
hat the need is real At the preSer:
ime. The actual need Of the Army
Nurse Corps today is 175 nurses ant
his number is needed for immcG.ats
;crv.cc Therefore, we are urgen.y
'cuucsting that nurses who have de-
.crmined to do war service no longer
postpone making application but IN
ncdiatcly. by telegraph or by letter
gppiy with the IDEA Of immcdia'c
assignment.
ANY nurse who IS qualified ~
;crvcc. no matter where she may Vt
n this country, should not hesitate
make her application, her services
,rc. or presently will be needed fol
rhc army"
4 nurse travelling under orders =
rivcn tirst-class ticket. Pullman cai
accommodations, and is reimbursed
or incidental travelling expenses Tol
exceeding $3.50 per day. Nurses 2t
lot REQUIRED 10 purchase new un!.
,orms. but may use any white IH'
lorms they may have.
Application for appointment ls
made to the Army Nurse CorFs
blanks being furnished, and the up
,licant must meet the following re-
quiremcnts:
She must DC between II and a'
ear: of age and unmarried. Previous
= the age specifications were % &c
- years.
Her physical fitness for service y
O be established by a medical 0theel
# the Army at his proper station
examinations are confidential. /
void long journeys the physical ca
,mination of the applicant may be
made bv her family physician. An
army nurse must be a graduate OF j
,.oinin~ school for nurses and mus'
',avc; served for two years III a nos
7;tal. TO meet the present emergency
statc registration will be waived
Appointments arc made 0noer -
agreement TO serve for the period %
nc emergency only, II the nurses o'
not desire to serve for the uSia
hrce-ycars period.
Army nurses designed to duty Z
military hospitals at home or abroad
ire provided with quarters and sue
,istancc and are pad $50 per mon'h
With so additional for foreign Ser
vice.
The Red Cross nursing service con
| stitutes The reserve OF the ATM
Nurse Corps and enrolment may D.
through that body or directly through
-he Superintendent OF the Oh'Ce'
States Army Nurse Corps at WASH
ineton.