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

by CAhIEh bROOhE 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 a 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 its serv-
ices to Chairman May of the House
committee in drafting legislation
While the chairman has introduced
a 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 outsa 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 Association
plans to appear before the commit
tee with other representatives of the
profession.
The Nurses Association acted after
the National Nursing Council fol
War Service approved in principle
Federal selective service legislation
for the procurement of nurses fol
the needs of the armed forces.
This did not imply Endorsement Of
any specific bill, it was explained
Urge Supplemental Act.
To assure adequate nursing fol
the civilian population also the
council urged enactment of a ma.
tional service act to supplement
any selective service legislation fol
nurses"
An official of the American Nurses
Association expressed hope that tn,
Army would get enough nurses tt
relieve the critical shortage withou
resort to a draft. But if draft /.
essential, the nurses as whole viii
not oppose it, she felt sure.
Delegates at the association.
board meeting said that If it provee
necessary to draft nurses, Congress.
should pass a selective service &C
including all women within reason.
able age groups, so that any othel
needs imperative to winning the wal
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 mad,
to persuade eligible young nurses al
over the country to apply to tn
Army or Navy = particularly tn,
Army, since its present need is mucl
greater. The organized nurses ar,
helping the American Red Cross lin,
up girls as they graduate from &C
credited hospital schools.
Registered nurses under As wht
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 tina
every one will be commissioned
whether she volunteers or is in
Quoted.
The Army has placed it's minimum
need in the immediate future a
$4,000 to 10000 more graduate nurse
to care for the battle casualtie
overseas and in this country, VIII
are growing in numbers CONSTANT,