Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-13
NURSES ASKING SHORTER
HOURS CLAIM INJUSTICE
Assert They Arc Not Seeking Higher
Wage, but Better Standard OF
Conditions.
DECLARE TILIBUsTER STAGED
Opponents to Twelve-Hour Day Said
to Have Prevented Proper Con-
sidcration Of observation-disclosures
Up Again on December 4.

Richmond nurses who have been
termed as "proflteers' and as display
Ing spirit Of radicalism. because they
have asked the Richmond Nurses Club
TO adopt q resolution providing for
limiting duty periods to, twelve hours,
are unjust charges made against them
% onp9sdsSf tho tn he
from the Nurses Club meetings par
10 state ali tho facts. Fol iii t" this
meeting an official statement was given
out to the effect that the club. by a
to consider further the movement 10
regulate working hours.
Fillbuster Enacted.
Supporters Of the resolution. pro-
wore so skillfully used by those op-
posing tho resolution that they were
themselves and that a ''nlibuster" was
enacted. Thus, they say. when the time
who favor khe resolution had been COM
peiEsd TO leave and return to their
They are emphatic in their decla-a-
lion that they are not attempting to
profteer and deny that Increased com
penSation Is being demanded. Under
to work from ~ no 20 hours daily, they
state. This it is pointed out, is an
to the patient as such hours are not
conducive 10 efficiency on the part OF
the nurse.
auote Their Resolution.
In denial OF the claim that they are
attempting to protiteer. the nurses sup
porting lhe twelve-hour movement are
quoting the resolution which was tabled
d inc last meeting OF the club which
"Th. committee begs to offer the fol-
R es hmery Nn ss c Suggestion to the
That the club request all hospitals
in t ihis city y,, to reeommend, 70! all
Twelve hours as a mirimum-and four
icen hours as a maximum. the latter
d doI period sa Of three months only. in
deavsr to create pIblie sentiment
recommendation be presented 10 the
club for It's adoption.
The committee further recommends
The superintendents of all the hospitals
In the city. suggesting that the above
proposal cmanate from the hospitals"
Applications Arc Tabled.
II is stated that the opposition 20
The twelve-hour duty nlan comes from
hospital superntendents and tho older
nurses, except In one or two instances.
been termed AS prohtcers" is THAI $50
graduate nursss, whose names have
pSCn pI SSs.Uteu TeCeHtlS. nave Deen re-
fused admission TO the Richmond
Nurses Club bv the controlling .Ie-
ment, at least no action has been taken
Upon the applications
There will be another meeting OF the
club on Thursday. December 4. and
both sides to the controversy are re-
ported az engthening their forces
Tor a determined contest when tho
Twelve hour issue will be again brought
Many OF She nurses are much aroused
By statements OF hospital superinten
dents and others that. II a twelve hour
rule were TO be permitted. nurses
would walk away and leave their pa
ients. no matter what condition they
might be in, when the twelve-hour
day was completed.
such statements are an insult TO the
nursing profession" declared one Wa
man yesterday. Il do not believe that
there is any nurse here who would
deliberately leave patient I'm an
emergency. We only believe there
should be standard for Geperal OBJ
servance under ordinary oircum-
stances ~