An Experiment in the Centralization of Nursing Education in Kansas City

Abstract

On September 2nd, 1919, thirty-eight students from six hospitals of Kansas City, Missouri, entered the Junior College of that city for a twenty-weeks course covering the studies outlined in the preliminary course of the Standard Curriculum. This sras the realization of a plan undertaken by the Kansas City League of Nursing Education to place more directly under the Public Educational System this phase of higher edllcation, just as school teaching and other such special types cf preparation for sezving the public had long been placed under this system. The idea was stimulated by a summer's work at Teachers College and by the urgent need for raising the standards to meet the requirements of the American Nurses' Association. Contrarv to all expectations, no obstacles vere raised by the Kansas City Board of Education nor by the Superintenclent of Schools, Mr. I. I. Commack. The latter referred the details of the plan to itlr. E. M. Bainter, Principal of the Junior College, who has pioved an invaluable friend to the nurses. This college gives the same rork as the first two years of the State University and receives full credit ^rith the Unilrersit of WIissouri for the courses covered. It has ample class and laborator e,quiplnent which is used by the nurse students. These students are enrolled probationers of the hospitals concerned: at first six, later eight. The hospitals are as follows: Christian Church, Research, Wesley, Swedish, St. Luke's and Mercy and later: Bethany Hospital Training School of Kansas City, Kansas, and Independence SanitariumS Independence, Mo. The students are on duty four hours daily in the respective hospitals, usually 7-11 a. m., are at the college 1-4 p. m. each school day, and receive maintenance and all expenses for laboratory fees and in most instances text booke; and car fare from the hospitals. The league decided, for both training school and pupil, the requirements for entrance, the course of study, and the appointment of nurse instructors. The Committee on Education of the League has the responsibility of the details and holds frequent conferences with the college instructor and representatives from the hospitals to keep the two activities closely correlated. It was thought better to use several nurse instructors from the various hospitals to keep all closely in touch with the work, rather than iust one nurse taking all subjects not taught by college instructors. Consequently, Anna B. Murphy of Christiall Church Hospital Trainillg School taught