Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-01
mo. 8 OF a Series.)
Bv PAT JONES.

BY PAT JONES'.
Agitation for nurses training
schools to At their curricula better
to wartime conditions as relief to
the nursing service shortage may
eliminate this week in the most
drastic program of action along this
line since the emergency of the first
World War.
No matter how much the nursing
course is shortened, medical inter-
ests realize no immediate benefit can
result. 1t is anticipated that among
the changes will be a reduction of
the period of training from SO to 80
months and a relaxation Of rules to
give students with college back
ground credit for the preparation
they already have received. The
earliest, however, that recruits
brought in by these measures can
complete their training and be re-
leased for service will be from "a to
% months.
But the program looks to the
future as we'll as to the immediate
emergency. The Veterans Admin
istration soon will need double its
staff of nurses to take care of
wounded sent back from the war.
And as another need in postwar
world, public health nurses must be
increased to meet the demands OF a
changing population and of reha-
bilitated families of returning SOL
diers.
Schools Face Three Problems.
As they prepare to cooperate IN a
stepped-up program, the nursing
schools are faced with three prob
lens:
l. Scarcity of students.
2. Scarcity of instructive person.
mel.
3. Scarcity of housing facilities.
These three scarcities have COM
bined to make an expanded train
ing program difficult, no matter how
much the study course is shortened
and rules are relaxed. Last fall the
Medical Society urged study OF a
proposal for reopening discontinued
nursing schools and expansion Of
those already in existence.
An ONCE of Civilian Defense
committee, considering a plan to
reopen the nurses schools of five
hospitals as training centers fol
practical nurses" abandoned the
idea as impractical in view of the
shortage of help in all fields and the
wage differential between private
duty and Government nursing help
All to Increase Enrolment.
The committee appointed by Com
missioner Guy Mason to study thu
hospital situation reported that al
of the present schools could ane
would materially increase their en-
rollment of student nurses provided
scholarship funds, adequate hous'
ing facilities and adequate trans
portation facilities were made avail
able.
AS late as September % Surgeon
General Thomas Parron, speaking
over the National Radio Forum
sponsored by The Star, warned tina
"only by the intensive training O
thousands of young women ever!
year will we be able to carry on
the long-range nursing program
which the country needs" He addet
that Federal Security Administra
tor Paul v. McNutt In June had rec
commended to Congress that nursinl
schools be given financial help ant
that Congress, in return, had appro
priated 81, 250, 900 to train nurses TO
national defense.
But there the matter hangs. Hos
pital superintendents invited to tax
. part in the Medical Society's pro
; gram last week explained that the
were unable to get students. On
Of them reported that his hospits
had opened q new class the wee
before only 81 students, In
stead of the SO to 60 desired.
; Classroom Delay Assailed.
/. From the floor Of the meetin
/. came an exchange Of opinion an
, criticism. DR.. Thomas E. Neal al
tackled the practice Of devoting tt
I, first six months Of nursing tranir
: to classroom work. Citing Il
present emergency, he termed sue
practice q crime" and followt
this up with . charge that sue
training "isn't worth = Nickel" TIL
students should be brought In =
j learn by the patients bedside, n
J In the classroom"
? Another speaker, DR.. Watson \
} Eldridge, chief Of medical and su
; gical service at st. EltzabethS Ho
I pital, laid the blame for the shoftal
] Of nursing students On the Medic
Practice Act under which q