Evening star., 1942-10-27
By PAT JONES.

Proposal that the Nurses Exam
lining Board take further steps to
put its requirements on wartime
basis as one means of overcoming
the nurse shortage in Washington
already is under consideration and
may soon lead to definite action, it
was learned today.
A committee recently appointed
at meeting of representatives from
the Examining Board and nursing
profession is expected to submit
within a few days additional rec
concentrations leading toward a
specific policy in the. present emer-
gency.
The major points now under con-
sideration, it further was learned
were submitted by the National
League Of Nursing Education, both
to aid the personal problems of
civilian hospitals and to supply
nurses to the armed services.
May Speed Courses.
One Of the most important pro-
posals calls for reduction Of the
nursing curriculum from three years
to 30 months, thus possibly releasing
the students six months ahead Of
schedule for supervised practice in
hospitals wherever needed. Also
suggested is an accelerated program
of training, where State laws per-
NIT, that will admit students with
fuyN fN fN1,v. ~ n41
lege preparation, making it pos
sible for them to be graduates in
"a to % months.
In offering its proposals, the league
warned that care to protect the pro-
fession must be observed.
THE Board of Directors of the
National League of Nursing Educa-
ton, in this critical period when
there is unprecedented demand for
graduate nurses for both military
and civilian services" it explained,
! believes that all those who are con-
cerned with nursing schools should
give immediate consideration to
making adjustments in their educa-
tional programs. In making these
adjustments, it is important that
the essential elements of sound
preparation for professional nursing
be maintained. The responsibilities
that are being placed on nurses were
greater and, according to all indica-
tions, these will be greatly increased
In the postwar period"
Mason Urges Relaxing Rules.
There are some who do not feel
that too much attention should be
given to the professions future at
a time when there Is dire emergency
Commissioner Guy Mason, who has
taken both personal and an execu.
tive interest in the local hospital
situation, said he would suggest thar
the Examining Board relax its rules
even to the point of getting in mid
wives If necessary"
This is a war and not a peace
time period" he warned.
The Public Health Committee o.
the Board of Trade also urged after
a recent study of the situation thai
Examining Board requirements be
placed on wartime basis.
Against the proposal for a gen
eral relaxation of rules, however
Miss M. Cordelia Cowan, executive
secretary of the Examining Board
cites the experience since 1917.
I'VE relaxed our requirement.
during the last war and have beer
suffering from it ever SINCE" shl
pointed out. First of all, it brough
in large number Of undesirables
people who were not of the calibel
for a professional group, and sec
ondly, it meant that we opened tn
profession to nurses who we're in
adequately prepared.
People ask me, Why don't 20,
do like the medical and engineering
schools and condense your pro
gram?' We did that years ago
These other schools haven't re-
duced their curriculum so much q
they have the time in which tn,
curriculum is given. We have op
Grated on q calendar year and the,
have been on q nine-month session
basis"
II Fav0rS Accelerati0n.
I While Miss Cowan does not wan
to give up the required clinica
services, she believes that they cal
be worked into q s30-month course
as proposed by the Nationa
League of Nursing Education, bu
she points out that this would b
strictly on minimum basis.
She Is highly in favor Of tn
leagues proposal for an accelerated
prgram.
. Students with from two to fou
years Of approved college prepare
ton would be Of great value to US,
; she said. This would be true espe
. cially In the case Of persons VIII
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