Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-16
Nursing Groups
Favor Licensing
Bill Detectives
Spokesman Differ
On Exact Terms
For Regulations

Spokesman for the District
government and various nurs-
ing groups today voiced APP
proval before a House subcom-
mittee of the general detectives
of a bill providing for the Ii
censing and regulation of prac-
teal nursing here.
A wide variety of views was
developed. however, as to the
exact terms of the bill and
particularly whether it should
be amended to require specific
definitions distinguishing be-
tween a licensed practical nurse
and a professional registered
nurse.
REPRESENTATIVE Alternately,
Democrat of Mississippi, chair
man Of the Health Subcommit-
! tee of the House District Com
mittee, made a point of this
and suggested there be a meet
ing of minds of groups now in
conflict on definitions.
Weaknesses Claimed
This subject has been under
discussion for several years but
the groups still are not in full
agreement.
Representative Miller. Re-
publican of Nebraska, a ply
stefan by profession, said he
thought he would favor the
bill if some amendments were
adopted. Generally, spokesman
for graduate, registered nurs-
ing groups insisted the bill had
definite weaknesses because of
the lack of specific definitions
and other provisions.
The bill was supported by
Commissioner David Karrick,
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Belden White, and by William
j. Smith. speaking for the
health committee of the Citi-
zen's Advisory Council.
Mr.. White said the bill would
not prevent a person from
practicing nursing, even though
unlicensed. unless she held her.
self out to be a licensed practi-
cal nurse.
Chairman Abernethy was
somewhat in doubt as to thi1
because he said a nurse couldn't
get business unless she repre-
sented herself to be q nurse.
Can Not Be Fined
Testimony brought out that
a nurse could not be fined for
serving as a practical nurse un-
less she represented herself to
be a licensed practical nurse.
Mrs. Margaret F. Carroll,
RN, assistant executive secre-
tary Of the American Nurses
Association. urged revision of
the bill, protesting that it would
afford, in its present form, little
real protection from unqualified
practitioners. Nor would the bill
assure maintenance of ade-
quate standards of nursing
education. she said.
She said her association
wanted definitions of the regis
tered nurse and of the practical
nurse and a requirement that
the Commissioners appoint a
board Of nursing consisting ex-
clusively of registered profess
sional nurses. And she said
these should have the qualif1-
cations of graduation from a
recognized college, at least five
years successful experience in
administration or teaching in
nursing and at least three
years in active nursing prac-
tice Immediately preceding APP
pointment.
Somewhat similar views were
expressed by Louise Moser,
RN, first vice president of
the District Graduate Nurses
Association.
Asks for Delay
10 v. Morgan jr., counsel for
the Association of Undergrad
uate and Practical Nurses. and
H. M. GoldStein, counsel for
the Washington Nurses Associa-
ton, both spoke for the pend
ing bill without the qualifying
definitions.
Robert F. Cogswell director
OF the District Department of
Occupations and Professions
spoke generally for the bill but
asked for a provision that the
licensing Of practical nurses be
delayed until Congress pro-
vides an additional appropria-
ton of about $4,000 to cover
the cost of the extra licensing