Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-05-08
Graduate Nurse Called
|0yerirained in Forum
|0f Medical Society
By Thomas 6. Buchanan

L
modern graduate nurse Is over
trained for her job were expressed
last night by q nurse, q doctor and
q Federal health official In forum
that featured the annual business
meeting OF the District Medical So
ciety.
DR.. James A. Cannon, physician
member Of the Board of Education,
said the graduate nurse has become
"a little doctor without recognition
and without opportunity to apply
her knowledge"
As result. he charged, she finds
that performance of routine ward
duties does not appeal to her, and
seeks supervisory posts the pay for
which is in line with the training she
has undergone.
Urges Shorter Course.
To relieve the shortage Of bedside
nurses he urged reduction Of the
present three-year training course
to two years. At the conclusion
some of the nurses would be given
practical nursing certificates, while
those who showed ability for higher
training would continue their edu-
cation far another year two, be-
coming graduate nurses.
He advocated reduction of the six
months probationary period, during
which only academic training is
given, to two months. To attract
more students, he added, the hos
pitfalls must be prepared to pay q
small allowance "for the cheap labor
they are getting" rather than
charge the student nurses tuition
fees.
Indicating the belief that aca-
demic requirements for nursing can
didates now are set too high, DR..
Cannon declared, "Let high school
certificate, good health and good
moral character be the ticket for
admission"
Pay Tribute to Group.
He paid tribute to the Graduate
Nurses Association and the Nurses
Examining Board, however, for set
ting standards Of nurse training
here that have persuaded" district
officials to make improvements In
hospital conditions.
Miss Elizabeth Earle, member Of
the Nurses Examining Board, took
issue with DR.. Gannon's view that
the training Of graduate nurses has
reached too high q level, crrbing
bedside care.
She said improvement Of working
conditions in the hospitals and the
guarantee of adequate pay were the
best solution to higher nurse re-
cruitment.
1--WE don't want to see either prac-
tical or graduate nurses exploited
for cheap labor, as they used to
be-" she asserted.
Miss Earle said nurses were 80
plentiful they were "a drug on the
market" 20 years ago. The hos
pitfalls policy during the depression
was to take as many student nurses
as possible, using them as a cheap
source of labor, she charged.
THAT situation will bring dim
culties II 1t happens again." she
warned.
Sees Economic Problem"
Dr.. James A. Crabtree, deputy
surgeon general Of the United
States Public Health Service, called
the nursing shortage Gin the final
analysis an economic problem"
He expressed opposition to any
lowering Of standards in the nurs-
ing profession.
What we need In this country
is not less highly trained nurses
but better trained nurses to do the
things which require SKILL" he ex-
planned.
He added, however, that the bur-
den of routine work should be
turned over to practical nurses and
auxiliary hospital aids to q greater
extent than now prevails.
DIR. Minor Is Chosen.
In the medical society's business
meeting DR.. John Minor was chosen
as president elect. He will take
Office in July. 194s, upon compile
ton Of the term of the incoming
president, DR.. Raymond T. Holden,
who assumes the presidency this
summer.
DR.. Ivy A. Pelzman was elected
first vice president and DR.. Caro-