Evening star., 1945-01-31
SeIective Service
For Nurses Favored
By Hospital Group
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

Wartime legislation placing regis
tered nurses, in effect, under a
selective service system and author
izing the War Manpower Commits
sion to assign them to military serv-
ice or essential civilian posts, is fav-
ored by the American Hospital Asso-
citation, its president, DR.. Donald C.
Smelzer of Chicago, announced in
statement made public today.
Draft bills carrying out this plan
in principle are pending before the
House Military Affairs Committee
and have been given a priority next
to the compulsory work bill now
before the House.
DR.. Smelzer said that at the direc-
ton of the association he had writ
ten President Roosevelt urging that
WINGS procurement and assign
ment for nurses be strengthened to
protect both military and imperative
civilian needs.
Sees Registration Needed.
The organization, he said, 'be-
lieves that a national registration
Of all nurses and a legal basis for
assigning them to civilian hospitals
and to military service in accordance
with the classification needs arrived
at by procurement and assignment
is necessary to the continued satis-
factory fulfillment of military and
civilian nursing needs"
Hospital administrators, DR.
Smelzer pointed out, are urged to
consider the Army's immediate de-
mand for 10000 nurses. Those in
communities whose civilian hospital
service is severely impaired by the
shortage of nurses were asked to
furnish detailed reports to the
American Hospital Association in
Chicago.
These reports" said DR.. Smelzer
Should include not only the seri-
BUSINESS of the shortage, but also
should describe the measures which
have been taken to reduce non
essential disqualification and other
measures as substitute for trained
nursing care.
Must Meet Needs.
Military needs are of primary
Importance. Other needs are Sec
ondary. The Army requires 10000
to 10000 or more nurses immedi-
ately and these needs must be met
Immediately" /.
DR.. Smelzer, commenting on the
recent decision of the Army ano
the Red Cross to ignore VINO clas-
si1cations in commissioning eligible
nurses, said medical administrators
and other well-informed persons be.
lieved the removal of procurement
and assignment from the nursing
picture would contribute to 9
chaotic situation in the ability ol
local communities to meet civilian
hospital nursing needs" Yet, hi
conceded, the association was un.
able to suggest an immediate sub.
stitute for classification and urgec
hospital heads to aid the Army ir
every possible way to obtain nurses
For the reasons mentioned, he urgeC
a stronger role for procurement
and assignment, backed by law, st
that the supply Of nurses could bt
divided according to urgency.
While the Army's need for nurses
has been of primary Importance be.
cause Of the heavy casualties on thu
western front, the Navy announcet
today its immediate need for 4,00t
additional nurses ito assure ever.
man in the Navy Of adequate care
Nurses interested in serving in tn.
Navy Nurse Corps, who must b,
Registered and unmarried, widowet
or divorced, preferably withou
minor dependents, are asked to ap.
Iply at the Office Of Naval Onacel
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