Evening star., 1945-01-29
Nurses Group
Approves Draft
In Principle
Board Holds Act
Should Be First Step
In MobiIizine Women
BY CARTER BROOKE ZONES.

by CAhIEk bhOOkE JONES.
The American Nurses Association
approves in principle the drafting
OF nurses for the armed forces
the House Military Affairs Commit.
tee was informed today.
The association, representing reg
istered nurses all over the country
acted through its Board of Directors
Members from So States attended
conference in New York, at which
the legislation was considered
The board adopted a resolution
indorsing nurses draft if neces-
sary as "the first STEP in a general
mobilization of womanpower in the
country.
Group Offers Its Services.
The organization offered it's serv-
Ices to Chairman May of the House
committee in drafting legislation
While the chairman has introduced
bill to draft nurses and another
by Representative Rogers, Repub-
lican, of Massachusetts,, is before
the group, those sponsoring the leg
islation expect to work out a meas
ure in the committee after taking
up all angles of the problem.
When the committee resumes
hearings after the House completes
action on the compulsory man
power bill, Miss Katharine Dens-
forth of Minnesota. president of
the American Nurses Associatio
plans to appear before the commit
tee with other representatives of the
profession.
The Nurses Association acted after
the National Nursing Council for
War Service approved in principle
Federal selectiye service legislation
for the procurement of nurses for
the needs of the armed forces" A"
This did not imply Endorsement of
any specific bill, it was explained.
Urge Supplemental Act.
To assure adequate nursing for
the civilian population also the
council urged enactment of a ma
tional service act to supplement
any selective service legislation for
nurses"
An official of the American Nurses
Association expressed hope that the
Army would get enough nurses to
relieve the critical shortage without
resort to a draft. But if draft is
essential, the nurses as whole will
not oppose it, she felt sure.
Delegates at the associations
board meeting said that if it proved
necessary, to draft nurses. Congress
should pass a selective service act
including all women within reason
able age groups, so that any other
needs imperative to winning the war
could be met.
Recruiting Pushed.
The organization is doing its ut
most, meanwhile, to push the volun-
tary recruiting program, it was ex-
planned. Every effort is being made
to persuade eligible young nurses all
over the country to apply to the
Army or Navy - particularly the
Army, since its present need is much
greater. The organized nurses are
helping the American Red Cross line
up girls as they graduate from ac-
credited hospital schools.
Registered nurses under As who
can pass the physical examination
are eligible for commissions as Sec
ond lieutenant in the Army or en-
sign in the Navy. Maj Gen. Nor
man T. Kirk, Army surgeon general,
has told Congress that the War De-
partment has no intention of draft
ing nurses as privates, but that
every one will be commissioned,
whether she volunteers or is in
Quoted.
The Army has placed its minimum
need in the immediate future at
$1,000 to 10000 more graduate nurses
TO care for the battle casualties
overseas and in this country, who
are growing in numbers constantly.