Evening star., 1951-08-06
Nursing Schools
Fail 10 Increase
Enrolment Here
Many Officials Agree
Recruiting Plan Will
Not Solve Shortage

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the same as last year, despite in
creased emphasis on student re-
cruiting programs on a local and
national scale, a survey by The
Star revealed today.
With hospitals here and
throughout the country facing a
critical nursing shortage, many
officials agree that even stepped
up recruiting programs for new
nurse students will not solve the
problem.
Nursing schools in Washington
now have enrolled about 200 stu
dents for graduation three or four
years from now, depending on the
amount of college level instruction
given. Not all will survive the
rigid training.
The immediate need here is for
800 nurses, according to a recent
survey by the District Graduate
Nurses Association. The demand
is expected to increase with con-
Struction of the new Washington
Hospital Center and 500-bed Vet
erans Administration hospital.
Free Tuition at Gallinger.
On a Nationwide scale, a Ma
tional Security Resources Board
spokesman estimates 63, 900 addi-
tional nurses are needed for the
civilian population Immediately,
with $4,000 more needed by 1860.
Many officials look to a Govern
ment-supported training program
as one solution.
At Gallinger Hospital, where
trainees get free tuition, uniforms
and lodging, plus monthly pay
of about $12, more students have
enrolled than at any time in the
last five years. With two weeks
to go before registration is closed,
"a students have definitely en-
rolled and another six or eight
are expected. The school could
take a new class of SO students.
However, a similar program of
Government-paid education is set
up at Freedmen's Hospital and
only about Is high school gradu-
ates have enrolled to date. The
school has room for 80 more stu
dents. Applications there are ac-
cepted later than at Gallinger,
and subsequent figures may show
q larger attendance.
Scholarships Available.
Several private nursing schools
also offer financial assistance to-
needy cases. But at Emergency
Hospital, with about Is new stu
dents expected. several scholar
ships are going begging.
Garfield Hospital, with one
scholarship still available. has So
far enrolled % students and ex-
poets to sign up four or five more.
There were 80 girls in last years
freshman class. Two tuition Schol-
arships are available at Alexan-
dria Hospital, which has nearly
20 students enrolled for a class
which can accommodate 25. Fig
ures for Sibley Hospital were un-
available.
Some health leaders feel four
year courses leading to Bachelor
of Science degrees are more at
tractive to high school graduates.
At Providence Hospital, where
students take college courses at
Catholic University, recruiting is
described as better than usual"
Between 20 and 80 students are
expected. There were 20 enrolled
last year.
Reflects General Picture.
The Georgetown Hospital School
of Nursing, which also has a COL
lege program leading to a degree,
reports 81 applicants have been
accepted. A half f-dozen more are
expected. It may be significant
that near-capacity classes are
reported at both these institutions
offering college degrees, despite
the fact that tuition fees are
higher than at other hospitals,
and fewer scholarships are avail
able.
The enrolment situation here
reflects the picture throughout
the country. In 1948, enrollments
in the United States were 43,373.
Only 1852 new students regis
tered in 1949, and last year the
figure had only inched up to
44,185.
OF concern to hospital officials
is the fact that while more high
school girls register a desire to
enter nursing than any other pro-
fession. they choose another Ca
reer when they graduate.
Financial Angle Is Problem.
The financial consideration is
of primary Importance. Girls must
have some funds before they can
take a nursing course. despite in
creased efforts by graduate nurses
groups to set up scholarships.
And after a nurse completes her
training, she may go to work in
a hospital at a salary scale COM
parable to that received by girl
who has spent but a few months
learning a trade or attending a
secretarial school.
Representative Bolton, Republi-
can, of Ohio. sponsor of a bill
which would provide Federal aid
for nursing students, feels her
measure would step w. enroll
ments as the Cadet Nurse Corps
brought an increase in trainees
during World War II. But the
measure, which hackers hoped
would be law in time for this
years new students, has Ian
guished in the House Interstate
and Foreign Commerce Commit
tee for many months.
Representative Bolton points
out, however, that hospitals will
have to increase their pay scales
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