After entering World War
II, it became clear that America would soon face a
critical shortage of nurses nationwide. As the war
progressed, the demand for nurses increased
dramatically. Somehow, massive numbers of nurse students
had to be trained. Therefore, the instructional staff
and the facilities of existing civilian schools of
nursing needed to be strengthened. An emergency measure
was considered faster and more economical than
reinstituting the Army School of Nursing or building
similar military schools based in hospitals.
Additionally, the nurse students could receive
accelerated training and their services could be used
while they were in training. This way, more graduate
nurses could be freed for military service overseas.
These plans meant that civilian and military communities
received substitute nurse care from student nurses on
the home-front. The plans became concrete when
Representative Frances P. Bolton of Ohio introduced a
bill on 29 March 1943.
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