The Wilmington morning star., 1944-05-21
The Hospital Situation
Gan EditOrial)

There has been so much said about the differences
among the James Walker Memorial Hospital board the
eocai staff and the Nurses Association that it seems adj
vsable to offer some explanation of the situation
some weeks committees from the board the NURSE
ana the DOCTORS gathered at the hospital thresh out
prooems Inc nurses were asked to go back tweve e.
outy 10 Iufnsh from their membership twenty nurse
geneal nursing duty at salary of $3.50 month w
maintenance and that luxury" nursing be abandon I
the duration.
After this joint meeting other minor differences were
lroheo out: The nurses yielded to slight difference in
compensation with the hospitals resident nursing staff and
ner earlier request for meal the hospital while on duv
Aey also agreed that luxury nursing be discontinued
. But since these adjustments new and more serious
mas developed between the nurses and the med
cal staf The doctors they should have sole authority to
o!oe "hen ana Tor now long nurse should remain with
ge patlent Iher position is that with their intimate
ho"edge OF the patients condition they are best fitted to
Joge whether private nursing required or whether the
patlent Will get along we'll if dependent upon general
or floor,
They have staff committee with which the ATTENDING
physician confers and after this consultation decision
reached to the time for taking the private nurse off the
case They express the opinion that in the present
shortage no patient is entitled to private longer
than her services actually required and that to keep
her beyond that time is to impose hardship on
other patients who need her services greatly the
original patient They that only by this can the
hospital meet the nursing emergency
On the other hand the first suggested and are
now understood to insist that the necessity for private
nursing be decided by committee composed of physician
hospital supervisor and They feel that thew have
not been given the recognition they entitled to by their
training IN profession requiring great skill They have
their rules and Standards and consent thew saw to
abrogate them without depreciation in their service and
justly won prestige.
It is said that nurse who insisted on remaining on
case more than the hours allowed by the ply
stefan told that if she returned the following day she
could not her uniform most be present in civilian
rament and friend of the patient only We are not pre-
pared to discuss the incident and mention only to direct
attention to of the contentious wit that they
have won this right to their uniforms and that no one
can deny them this right without just cause fully estab
lished any than clergyman may be unfrocked with
out trial.
The board of managers has let it be known that it
fees the medical staff is best qualified to pass on matters
pertaining to all nursing duties.
AS nearly have been able to learn after thorough
investigation this is the between the and both
the board and the medical staff stated without favor to any
party But 1t has been made clear that the opinions here
cited not held by all members of the three groups
volved 1t appears particularly that all in full
accord with the stand of their association and that the en-
not been poed but is possible that member by men,
ber there variation personal views on application
OF all rules either in force contemplated.
This being it would the best chance of copos
ing differences quickly and satisfactorily lies joint confer
not composed of committees but the entire member
ship OF the three units at Odds 1t might develop that
discussion and full explanation of the situation would
clear all issues and the hospital be able to provide nursing
for all patients at all times
We hope in the interest of the cys sick and afflicted
that such conference will be called at early date
New Argentine Cabinet PARAMTTSHIR0 hit