Nurses are NeededTHE U. S. CADET NURSE CORPSU. S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

offers girls an extraordinary opportunityfor a Free Professional Nursing education

"Be a Cadet Nurse—the Girl with a Future”

Prepared by theOFFICE OF WAR INFORMATION

in cooperation withDIVISION OF NURSE EDUCATION, U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY

May 1945

reword

The shortage of nurses has created a drastic civilian emer-gency. The Armed Forces have called more than 60,000graduate nurses to their ranks, leaving fewer nurses to carefor rapidly increasing numbers of patients in hospitals andhealth agencies at home.

Only by preparing thousands of new student nurses can theproblem be solved.

Last year 65,000 young women answered their country’scall to study for the profession of nursing. But, the problemis not yet solved. The recruitment of student nurses is a con-tinuing program. If we are to train enough nurses to meetneeds of the armed forces and to maintain minimum essentialcivilian nursing services* an additional 60,000 new studentnurses must be enrolled in schools of nursing during the year.

The public has had direct experience in the growing shortageof nurses. It has had to face curtailment of vital nursingservices, even the closing of entire hospital wards. It has hadto get along with fewer nurses at a time it needs many more.

It has witnessed the curtailment of vital nursing service be-cause there were not enough nurses to go around.

Already conscious of the problem, the public is highly re-ceptive to information and suggestions about its solution. Ifthe public is fully informed of the results to be obtained fromrecruiting new student nurses, of the program to train thesestudents, and of the opportunities nursing offers to youngwomen who enter its ranks, response to appeals for cooperationand assistance should be overwhelming.

In conformity with the National War Agencies Appropriation Act, 1945, whichprovides, “No part of this or any other appropriation shall be expended by theOffice of War Information for the preparation, or publication of any pamphletor other literature for distribution to the public within the United States,” thispublication is not for general distribution but is restricted to the use of mediapresenting information to the public.

The U. S. Cadet Nurse CorpsIn July of 1943, the Congress unanimously

passed the Bolton Act, establishing the U. S.Cadet Nurse Corps in the office of the SurgeonGeneral of the U. S. Public Health Service. Thisaction was taken at the urgent request of leadersin professional nursing and hospital groups.The Act provided funds to pay for the completeeducation of the minimum number of studentnurses needed to maintain essential nursing serv-ice. Additional funds have been provided asthe demand for additional student nurses hasincreased.

The creation of the U, S. Cadet Nurse Corpswas of immeasurable help in recruiting youngwomen as nurses. Before the Corps existed,many thousands of women attracted to nursingwere unable to go into training for financialreasons. Others who could afford the educationfelt they were of more immediate help to theircountry in one of the uniformed women’s services,or in a war industry.

Under the Cadet Nurse Corps program, theGovernment now pays for the education of youngwomen who qualify for admission to participatingschools of nursing. Some 112,000 Cadet Nurses—

new student nurses admitted to schools last year,plus those already enrolled in schools of nursingwho transferred to the Corps—are now studyingunder all-expense scholarships provided by theCorps program.

These scholarships include room, board, books,tuition, fees, plus a monthly personal allowanceof from $l5 to at least $3O. Also provided areuniforms which Identify Cadet Nurses as youngwomen in the service of their country.

High school graduates and college girls in goodhealth and with good scholastic records mayenlist in the U. S. Cadet Nurse Corps if they meetindividual requirements of the school of nursingthey desire to enter. The age range is 17 or 18to 35, depending upon school or State regulations.

This is not a Government nursing school pro-gram.—It operates only through already estab-lished schools of nursing. These schools, approvedunder provisions of the Bolton Act, receive allot-ments from the U. S. Public Health Service to

help meet the cost of equipping and instructingCadet Nurses, Cadet Nurses are free to choosetheir own school.

Through accelerated courses, Cadet Nursescomplete their education in from 24 to 30 monthsexcept in schools of nursing which require an addi-tional six months training. They then becomeSenior Cadets, performing the work of graduatenurses under supervision, and receiving largerspending allowances. Thus Cadet Nurses receivepaid nursing assignments earlier than underformer nurse training programs.

By performing nursing services in hospitalswhere they study, Cadet Nurses begin to servetheir country immediately. Upon entering aschool of nursing, they help release graduatenurses for duty with the armed forces and incritical civilian areas.

In return for the benefits received, Cadet Nursespledge to remain in essential nursing, either militaryor essential civilian, for the duration of the wr ar.

The U. S. Cadet Nurse Corps offers very realinducements to young women who want to servetheir country now and to prepare for their future.Because of these inducements, the nursing pro-fession holds an enviable position in the growingcompetition for the Nation’s womanpower. Tosolidify this position and to assure the continuingstream of student nurse recruits needed to meetthe demands, intensified emphasis should beplaced on advantages of the Cadet Nurse Corpsprogram and on the rewards to be gained fromone of the most challenging professions open towomen.

Efforts to recruit new student nurses for theU. S. Cadet Nurse Corps over the past year havebeen carried out successfully through radio,movies, magazines, graphics, news, organizationactivities, and through colleges and high schools.This program is being continued.

The recruitment of Cadet Nurses is not just a

seasonal job. It is a year-round activity. Specialrecruiting efforts are made, however, to coincidewith the peak periods of the opening of classes inschools of nursing—fall, spring and summer.

1643146—45

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Summary ofAdvantages Offered by theU. S. Cadet Nurse Corps

1. Preparation for the future.—Of all warwork open to women, nursing is one of the jewpeacetime professions with a promising future. Thewell-prepared professional nurse has an almostendless choice of fields in which she may work.She may enter public health nursing with avoluntary or official agency, school or industry.She may be a director of a nursing school, super-visor of a hospital, a specialist in pediatrics, publichealth or in psychiatric nursing, a laboratorytechnician, an anesthetist. These are only a fewof the posit'ons that represent security. Shemay earn up to $7,5C0 a year, after sufficientpreparation and experience to perform adminis-trative and organizational duties.

A nurse may follow her profession in all parts ofthis country and abroad. After the war she maytake part in the enormous task of reconstructionand rehabilitation in foreign countries, for therewill be great demand for nurses both at home andabroad to help solve the vast problems of disease,malnutrition and war shock. The growing popu-larity of group-health plans, with their greaterdemand on hospitals, probably will mean a con-tinually increasing demand for graduate nurses Inthis country.

For the woman who does not remain in nursingafter the war—no work could better prepare her formarriage and motherhood

, or for communityleadership. Regardless of how a woman maychoose to use her nurse education in future years,she will have acquired an understanding of people,a strength of character, and a mental alertnesswhich will enrich her life immeasurably.

2. War work now.—By performing nursingservices in hospitals where they are studying,Cadet Nurses are helping to relieve the criticalnursing shortage in civilian hospitals. Withoutstudent nurses, hospitals would have to dependupon graduate nurses. With student nurses,civilian hospitals are able to operate with a rela-tively small graduate staff for supervision andfor the duties which demand a higher degree oftraining and experience.

Cadet Nurses serve as they learn, assistingdoctors and graduate nurses in operating rooms,caring for mothers and new babies in maternitywards, working in the diet kitchen, assisting inout-patient departments, giving morning andevening care to patients . . . working in everydepartment of the hospital where their servicesare needed.

As her training progresses, a Cadet Nurse takeson more and more responsibility with patientsuntil, as a Senior Cadet, she performs the work ofa graduate nurse.

3. Education without cost.—From the dayshe enters a school of nursing and enrolls in theCadet Nurse Corps until her graduation, a CadetNurse’s tuition is paid in full. Living expenses,including room, board, laundry, textbooks, healthand laboratory fees, are also provided. Thesmart, official outdoor uniform of the CadetNurse Corps, as well as the Indoor uniform of herschool of nursing, is provided without cost to thestudent.

Monthly allozuances.—New students enter theCadet Nurse Corps as pre-cadets and receive amonthly allowance of sls. From this, they passto Junior Cadets at S2O a month, and then, wheresupervised practice as Senior Cadets is includedin the program, not less than S3O a month. Someinstitutions and agencies which have availed them-selves of the services of Senior Cadets pay S6O to$75 a month, with maintenance.

4. An accelerated period of training.—Un-der theprovisions of the act establishing the Corps,Cadet Nurses receive complete preparation throughaccelerated study programs ranging from 24 to 30months. The Pre-cadet period is the first 9months, the Junior Cadet period the next 15 to21 months, depending on the school’s curriculum.Some states and schools permit graduation after24 to 30 months’ training. Others require 36months for graduation. In these cases, at theend of the Junior Cadet period, the Cadet Nursebecomes a Senior Cadet, As such she is given

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important nursing assignments under supervisionuntil graduation.

Even though the program is accelerated, thestudent is given the same complete education thatshe would have received before the study programwas condensed. Upon graduation a Cadet Nurseis eligible to become a Registered Nurse. To dothis she must pass her State Board Examination,as must all graduate nurses, to obtain an “R.N.”

To the college-trained woman with a broad,general educational background, the nursing pro-fession today offers its top administrative andexecutive positions. Graduate nurse experienceand a relatively brief period of advanced nursingtraining will enable the college graduate to assumeresponsible nursing assignments in one of themany fields which require specialized preparation,such as executive positions in hospitals, in publichealth agencies, in schools of nursing, and inpsychiatric nursing.

Those who have had one or two years of collegeshould consider entering a school of nursingaffiliated with both a hospital and a college.Collegiate schools offer, in most instances, twotypes of programs; (a ) a professional courseleading to a nursing diploma and (b ) an integratedacademic and professional program leading to anursing diploma and the baccalaureate degree.Thirty months of her nurse study will be coveredby the full Federal scholarship of the U. S.Cadet Nurse Corps.

5. Completion of training.—This educa-tionalprogram will not come to an abrupt halt whenthe war ends. Any member of the Corps enrolled90 days prior to the end of the war will be ableto complete her studies under the scholarshipprovided by the Government.

6. Admission to a uniformed service atage 17 or 18.—Many schools of nursing admitstudent nurses at the ageof 17,others at 18. This isyounger than women are admitted to any of theuniformed services of the Armed Forces, andpermits a qualified young woman to go Immedi-ately from high school into the U. S. CadetNurse Corps.

Entrance requirements for admission to theCorps vary with schools of nursing, but in generalinclude graduation from a high school with goodscholastic record, and good health. In addition,the applicant must meet the entrance require-ments of her chosen school. An increasingnumber of schools of nursing are accepting mar-ried students.

7. The official uniform.—Members of theCorps are privileged to wear a distinctive outdooruniform that identifies themofficially as members ofan important war-time service. Provided withoutcost and designed by leading fashion experts, theuniform includes a flattering Montgomery beret,topcoat, water-repellent raincoat, two summersuits of gray and white pin-striped chambray, onewinter suit of gray flannel, and designated acces-sories. Suits and topcoats are trimmed withregimental red epaulets, silver buttons and in-signia. The U. S. Cadet Nurse Corps insignia isthat of the U. S. Public Health Service and theMaltese Cross, both rich in tradition and signifi-cance for the wearer.

Students are not required to wear the uniformat all times, but wear it when and where theychoose and on special occasions designated by theschool.

The indoor uniform is that of the school ofnursing. The insignia of the U. S. Cadet NurseCorps may be worn, if the school so desires.

What the Corps Means to These Cadet Nurses

“The only way to alleviate the shortage of nursesis to enroll ... I have a brother overseas; if heshould be wounded, I want to know that he willget adequate care.”

“I, too, wanted to wear a uniform to show thatas a student nurse I was doing my part for theUnited States.”

. . . L. A.—Texas.

“As a member of the Corps I have a vital sharein the war effort . . . while preparing for a pro-fession I love.” T' rr r, j-r

.., E. T .

—California.“It isn’t just something for the time being . .

.

but a life-time opportunity.” “Nursing was achildhood dream, and I thought it always wouldbe a dream until the Corps was organized.”

... TheJ .. . twins, Virginia.

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Special Points About the U. S. CadetNurse Corps

1. Nature of the Work.—To be a nurse callsfor some personal sacrifice and an unselfish dedica-tion to humanitarian work. It is a sacrifice ofwhich only the finest type of woman is capable.Nursing Is more than a job. It is a profession,and a demanding one; but the rewards are greaterthan in almost any other field open to women. Toincrease the number of nurses it is necessary tofind more of these women and to present to themthe whole picture of present and future oppor-tunities in nursing,

2. Competition. —The demand for woman-power, unparalleled in the history of this country,has created unprecedented competition for theservices of women. With increased activity torecruit women for war industries and the ArmedForces, many student nurses will have to bedrawn from the 17- and 18-year-old groups.There are only about 400,000 high school gradu-ates a year. If we were to depend upon thesenew graduates alone for student nurses, we wouldhave to enroll one out of every four, an averageprobably too high to maintain. The competitionis keen, and the drive should be an intensive one.

3. Training period.—Although student nursesin the U. S. Cadet Nurse Corps are identified withthe war effort by their service in civilian hospitalsand by their uniforms, they are attracted to theprofession chiefly by a sincerity of purpose thatgoes beyond the desire to “get into the wareffort”. For nurses must train 24 to 30 months,even under accelerated programs.

Compared with the training periods both forwomen in industry and the armed forces, theperiod required to prepare a nurse fully for pro-fessional service is a long one. Thus it should bemade clear that the prospective student nurse’straining period will be one of combined study andpractice, and that as a student nurse she will per-form daily service to her hospital, a service with-out which the graduate nurse shortage would bemore acute.

4. Parental questions.—Occasionally parentsstand in the way of their daughters becomingstudent nurses because of misunderstandingsabout preparation for professional nursing as acareer. These parents do not realize that nursingis one of the most respected, financially secureand interesting of women’s professions, and theydo not appreciate that it opens up unusual con-tacts with leaders in the medical, scientific,educational and civic fields. Nor are theyaware of the wide field of opportunities nursingoffers for a variety of specialties —duty with theArmed Forces, public health nursing, service incivilian and Government hospitals, work in nurs-ing education fields, organizational and adminis-trative work.

Parents often fear that with the acceleratednursing program, the student nurse will have toendure a strenuous 24 to 30 month schedule of“all work and no play”. This is a misconcep-tion. An average of 44 to 48 hours a week ofclassroom instruction, practice and study duringthe Pre- and Junior Cadet periods, with one fullday off a week, leaves ample time for outdoor andevening recreation. In the Senior Cadet period,there is additional time for relaxation.

The health of each student is carefully watched.A complete physical examination upon her en-trance into the Corps and at periodic intervalsthereafter, guarantees her the best of medicalattention.

Another parental objection is that the w'orkwill prove disagreeable, disillusioning, too confin-ing, and that, in effect, it will take their daughters“out of circulation”. Actually, the marriage rateis unusually high among nurses, and they makenotably good wives, mothers and communityleaders. For no young woman can better prepareherself for home-making and motherhood than byan education in professional nursing. She will beable to take in her stride upsetting emergenciessuch as accidents and a sudden illness of her hus-band or children. The development of her poise,

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understanding and patience during her nursingexperience will greatly aid her in maintaining ahappy married life.

Furthermore, if their daughter is a college grad-uate or has had some college training, she will findin nursing a profession which will use her fullcapabilities in essential administrative and execu-tive nursing positions. Not only will she be ableto prepare herself quickly after registration for

one of these vital and responsible jobs, but shealso may expect to advance rapidly in the special-ized field of her choice due to her previously soundacademic experience.

Such misunderstandings by parents may beovercome by emphasizing the many opportunitiesfor nurses of ability and proper education, both inattaining high standing professionally, and in de-veloping the finest character attributes.

THE JOB OF OBTAINING NEW STUDENT NURSES CAN BE SUCCESSFULONLY BY DEMONSTRATING TO FINE YOUNG AMERICAN WOMEN THATNURSING IS BOTH A GREAT SERVICE AND AN EXCEPTIONAL OPPOR-TUNITY TO GAIN A PERSONAL ADVANTAGE

Here Is JF'hat You Can Do to Help Recruit Student Nurses for theU, S. Cadet Nurse Corps

This booklet gives you only the facts about whywe need more nurses, what provisions have beenmade to facilitate their enrollment and education,and some cf the problems inherent in the CadetNurse Corps program.

The job of dramatizing the appeals and inspiringyoung women to enter the nursing profession isup to you. It calls for imagination and inspira-tion.

Young women of today are thinking in terms oftomorrow. The greater number of them willrespond to appeals which hold out promise for thefuture, as well as an opportunity to engage activelyin the war effort today.

Other appeals which have proved effective in

previous campaigns will continue to be used tosupplement the basic appeal of preparation forthe future. These include the themes of “WarWork Now,” “Completion of Training Assured,”“Scholarships for Complete Education,” “Admis-sion to a Woman’s Uniformed Service at Age 17or 18,” “Nursing—A Design for a SuccessfulHomemaking or Professional Career,” “An Edu-cation for Leadership,” and “A Personal Securityfor the Future.”

A new theme, based on local recruitment needs,will present figures on the limited number ofopportunities to join the Cadet Nurse Corps,emphasizing the fact that the Corps is openexclusively to well qualified young women.

What the Corps Means to These Cadet Nurses“Happy? ... Of course I’m happy. Being a

Cadet Nurse is the best way I know of serving mycountry both now and after the war.”

. . . L. F.— Oklahoma.“I hope every girl who is interested and eligible

will enroll in the Corps, if not for our country’ssake, for her own sake . . . What can bring moresatisfaction than to be able to be the one who canrelieve suffering and make others happy?”

, . . H. H.— Colorado.

“I found this is the finest branch of service Icould enter to do my share to help win the war formy country.”

. . . R. S.—New Jersey.

“Has it been worthwhile? So worthwhile, it isincredible. What lam learning to do for human-ity—what I am learning about my fellowmen—

all that cannot be measured; but I hear its valuein the voice of a patient thanking me for my care.”

... A. C.—Massachusetts.

6 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1945

Authoritative Statements on Present and Post-warNeed for Nurses

“The Cadet Nurse Corps is achieving a two-fold purpose. It is alleviating the shortage ofnurses today, and preparing the graduate nursesof tomorrow for their important place in thepost-war world.”

Dr. Thomas Parran,Surgeon General, U. S. Public Health

Service.

“The Cadet Nurse of today is in an enviableposition . . . Young women, equipped with nurseeducation, will do a superior job not only in theprofessional field, but as homemakers, wives,mothers and good citizens . . . The Cadet Nursewill be able to meet the problems of tomorrowwith the same self-confident assurance that she ismeeting the emergencies of today.”

Lucile Petry,Director, Division of Nurse Education,

U. S. Public Health Service.

“

... As the graduate nurse of tomorrow, shewill find broadened opportunities in nursingservice—in rehabilitation work, psychiatry, nutri-tion and the development of public health pro-grams both at home and in foreign countries. Asproud members of a distinguished profession,nurses make vital contribution to humanity inwar and in peace.”

Stella Goostray,Principal, School of Nursing , Children’s

Hospital; and Chairman, NationalNursing Council for War Service.

“Although the U. S. Cadet Nurse Corps wasestablished as a wartime measure, young womenenrolled in the Corps 90 days before the end ofhostilities may complete their nursingeducationunder the program. Their vital work, so im-portant to the country today, earns for them the

respect of the nation and assures them full prepa-ration for a lifetime career of nursing.”

Paul V. McNutt,Federal Security Administrator.

“As a profession, nursing has won universaladmiration. No woman could choose a moredistinguished, glorious career.”

Dr. Herman L. Kretschmer,President, American Medical Association.

“Never In the history of nursing have the idealsof nurse education been so high . . . Today, theCadet Nurse helps relieve the shortage of profes-sional nurses. Tomorrow, as a graduate nurse,she will have a wide field of opportunities fromwhich to choose.”

Ruth Sleeper,President, National League of Nursing

Education.

“The American Hospital Association has beenvitally interested in the growth of the U. S. CadetNurse Corps from its inception . . . Althoughcurricula have been accelerated in every School ofNursing participating in the Corps program, thequality of education given student nurses remainsunchanged . . , We are constantly aware of thedaily service these Cadet Nurses render in ourhospitals . . . The Cadet Nurse Corps has pre-vented the collapse of civilian nursing service inAmerica.”

Dr. Donald C. Smelzer,President, American Hospital Association.

“

. . . The Cadet Nurse, by serving today, isearning her right to a richer, brighter tomorrow.”

Katharine J. Densford,President, American Nurses’ Associa-

tion and Director, School of Nursing,University of Minnesota.