Evening star., 1941-09-23

sible to select only S9 schools for
Federal aid.
MRS. BOLTON-That must have
been a difficult task-selecting the
first S8 out of $50 schools, was it
not. DR.. Parran?
DR.. PARRAN-In many ways it
was, Mrs. Bolton. But not all
schools needed Federal aid. Many
of the best schools were able to ex-
pand their enrolment of student
nurses without our help, and, am
happy to say, they have done SO.
Also Provides Leaders.
MRS. BOLTON-What about the
postgraduate courses, DR.. Parran?
DIR. PARRAN--I am glad you
asked that question, Mrs. Bolton.
Many people think that nursing is
a limited profession. But that is
not true. Like physicians, nurses
have a choice of many specialties.
For example, they can specialize in
children's diseases, surgery, ortho-
pedics, midwifery, and so on. Many
of them become teachers or super
visors. Through Federal aid 26 in
stitutions will be able to give post
graduate courses to 500 additional
nurses. The majority of these
trainees are preparing to become
head nurses and teachers-the lead
ers in the new nursing army. A
good many are specializing for duty
in the operating room and to care
for the mentally ILL.,
MRS. BOLTON-And what about !
your own field, DR.. Parran? Don't |
you need public health nurses?
DR.. PARRAN-We need them
more than ever before, Mrs. Bolton. |
But I want to introduce a co-Worker |
who can give you more detailed in
formation on public health nursing
than can-the senior nursing con-
sultant of the Public Health Service
and our representative on the COM
mittee of nurses which has planned
this training program, Miss Pearl
McIver.
MISS McIVER-Thank you, Dr.
Parran. There is certainly need
for the first time in six years-the
number of public health nurses. in
this country did not increase. There
are less than $4,000 of us now-em-
ployed by all types Of agencies. And,
to do a good job. we need three
wherever we now have one. Every
State and Territorial health depart
ment. as well as our own Federal
service, has vacancies. There are
not enough qualified nurses to meet
peacetime needs, and we have the
additional demands of national de-
fense. The Public Health Service
has recruited and placed lis nurses
in the field during the past six
months and we have 400 more va
cancies in defense areas.
All Types of Schools.
MRS. BOLTON-That certainly
means that we have begun our
nurse-training program none too !
soon. I know there isn't time to |
name all the schools working with |
you, Miss McIver. But I wonder if
you could tell us something about |
them and where they are located.
MISS McIVER-As you know, Mrs. !
Bolton, there are many kinds of ac-
credited schools large and small
schools affiliated with large univer-
sites, schools connected with pri-
vately owned hospitals, schools sup !
ported by tax funds. All types are |
represented in the group of SO nurs-
ing schools which have expanded |
their training programs this fall with |
Federal aid Two-thirds of them .
are connected with privately owned |
hospitals-both non-Sectarian and |
religious institutions. Most of the |
schools are located in the East and |.
Middle West. That is where our
population Is concentrated. The re-
mainder are in the West and on the |
Pacific Coast, with one school in
Hawaii and one in Puerto Rico.
DIR. PARRAN-Have we any in |
formation yet as to how great the
enrolment has been, Miss McIver? |
MISS McIVER-Not all of the
schools have opened for the fall |
session, Dr. Parran. In the East, |
especially, it has seemed difficult |
to attract enough girls with good |
nursing qualifications. The situa-
ton seems not to be so difficult in |
the West and Midwest.
MRS. BOLTON-That is most in
teresting, Miss McIver. Recruiting
the right girl is really the most i'm
portant part of the whole program.
I think every girl who wants to be
a nurse should ask herself what
she has to offer-not only what
she can get out of it. For whatever
achievement, whatever satisfaction /
she realizes from her career de-
pends almost entirely upon what |
she gives it. Intelligence. health,
courage and devotion to duty are
the first requirements we'll as
the desire to help people of all
classes.
Entails Hard Work.
DR.. PARRAN-And, Mrs. Bolton |
don't think we are all inclined to .
romanticize nursing? Too often we
see only the picture of a beautiful |
young woman in white, soothing a
1CNCICu UlOW. N1dlly a |
young girl wants to become a nurse
because she sees herself in this
pretty picture. Sooner or later she
finds that nursing means hard work
as we'll as romance. Last February
in a London hospital, asked a
young woman if she found her work
thrilling. Frankly, there's not |
much glamour to it, DOCTOR" she
said. "I thought it would be Won
derful to care for wounded R. A. F.
hero; but really, it's aWfully dull |
looking after these aged chaps with |
chronic rheumatism I may add |
that this young British nurse who
sometimes found her job dull had |
been bombed out of her hospital |
three times. And it is just such |
tenacity and old-fashioned spunk |
that makes a good nurse. There's |
no denying it. The thrill is there. |.
Every doctor and every nurse /
knows the sense of achievement in .