Are Nurses Different?

Abstract

The university extension course referred to in the accompanying article was the first of its kind. Sponsored by the Illinois Nurses Association, the first 12-week, noncredit course met for two hours once a week under the auspices of the Downtown College of the University of Chicago during the spring of 1959. Subsequently, the course was transferred to the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Illinois, which is offering the course for the fourth time this winter. Approximately 275 professional nurses have attended the sessions. Of these, 167 were participants at seminars in Chicago conducted by Daisy Tagliacozzo. The others attended sessions in other parts of the state conducted by Mil Lieberthal, assistant professor of labor and industrial relations, at the University of Illinois. Content of the course was originally developed by a group of nurses with the help of the Illinois association's industrial relations counsel. University authorities analyzed the program, found it met academic standards, and offered it to nurses in Chicago, after the association had guaranteed 20 enrollees. Fortyseven nurses signed up for that first course. At the second session, because of the increased enrollment 57 registered the class had to be divided into two sections, meeting on different evenings. The high attendance record, the almost nonexistent dropouts, and the requests for one more session even when the course was extended to 16 weeks, reflect the enthusiasm of the participants. Seven of the state association's 17 districts are now requesting that the classes be conducted in their areas. Following Illinois' example, a similar course is being offered in Detroit under the cosponsorship of the Michigan State Nurses Association and Wayne State University. The state association continues