Evening star., 1946-07-03
Begin
Giving Nurses
Pay Increases
Higher Wage Scales
Studied in Effort
To Meet SHORTAGE
By Harold B. Rooers

By Harold B. Rogers
To help nurses meet tho in
creased cost of living, several
here already have
raised salaries, it was learned to-
day, and nearly all hospitals in
the Metropolitan Area have the
problem under consideration.
Higher scaleS Of pay, it is hoped,
may serve, to some extent, to re-
lieve the shortage of nurses, which
has become acute. Some of the
increases went into effect Monday.
The question Of salaries not only
for nurses, but also for other hospi-
tai employees is being discussed in
formally among hospital officials
for the first time on an area-w wide
basis. This is directly in line with
the new policy for better UNDER
standing and cooperation among
institutions for the sick, adopted
by the recently organized Hospital
Council Of the National Capital Area.
Notices Received From One.
Such cooperation was among the
outstanding needs of the community
according to the recent Metropoli-
tan Health and Hospital Survey.
While some of the hospitals acted
"on their own" in establishing in
creased pay scales for nurses, there
has been growing tendency re-
Gently among institutions to COM
pare notes and discuss this mutual
problem.
One hospital went so far as to
notify all other hospital superin-
tendents and administrators in the
entire Metropolitan Area. A detailed
statement of its entire pay scale was
mailed out by this institution to all
other hospitals several days in ad-
vance of the effective date of the
new scale last Monday.
The problem of pay scales for
hospital personnel probably will be
considered by the new hospital coun-
Gil it was predicted In the absence
of the council president, William R.
Castle, who is out of town. no off,
clal statement could be obtained as
to what the council may do in the
matter. But from some representa-
tlves on the council today came
strong expressions of approval for
the proposal.
Seen as Vital Problem.
The vital and pressing problem
nf rnrCnnon1 ~, 10, ,-,1
prices" said one, Should be one Of
the most immediate and practical
problems to be faced frankly by the
hospital council. I hope we can
deal with it in a friendly and CO.
operative manner for the benefit,
not only of the institutions them
selves and their employees, but also
for the benefit of the entire COM
munity"
The shortage of nurses In the
Metropolitan Area has become in
cerasingly acute recently. The old
pay scales have resulted in several
nurses leaving for more lucrative
positions elsewhere, it was said.
Most of the departures from hos
pltal nursing staffs, however, it was
agreed by spokesmen for both the
hospitals and the nurses themselves,
have been for so-called domestic
reasons" Many nurses are getting
married and establishing homes of
their own. Some are becoming
mothers and must give time to TAX
ing care of their babies. Still others
are leaving Washington to return to
their homes. Many released Army
and Navy nurses have not yet re-
turned to hospital duty.
Hopeful Sign Seen.
Asked about the situation,
spokesman for the Graduate Nurses
Association said the problem of SAL
arles was under consideration along
with other problems now facing the
nursing profession. She said the
association would be glad to Coop
crate with the new hospital council
in any way which may help to bring
Better nursing service to the
community"
One hopeful sign in the future.
she pointed out, will be the gradua-
ton next fall of students from the
new Cadet Nurse Corps. Young
women who have been studying un-
DER provisions Of the new Bolton
Act Will take the examination for
registered nurse before the DistricA
Nurses Examing Board in Septem-
Der. There will be 1856 cadet
nurses eligible for this examination.
Most Of them are expected to grad
uate and go into nursing. It is
hoped many may be available for
outy in hospitals of the Metropol-
itan Area.
Several problems facing the pew
hospital council are under consid-
Grafton of the councils Executive
Committee, which is making plans
Tor the next meeting of the entire
council July 18 at Emergency Hos
pitaL