European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 10, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Janet d Agostino medical writer he combat wounds that Marcia l. Kahn saw As a nurse in work War ii could nol be covered with bandages or cured with medication. Instead it look Lime and empathy to help pallans Overe Omo the psychological injuries they suffered on the Battlefield. Kahn worked on a psychiatric Ward at the 168lh general Hospital in Metz France. Many of the patients sent there had been unable to Cope with lha frustration and rear of combat and the pressure not to show any fear she said. Some men already had seeds of illness that germinated under the pressure of Battle. The work for me was very rewarding in fact i preferred american nurses have been caring for wounded soldiers since the revolutionary War when Gen. George Washington $ army paid them $2 a month and one meal a Day. Few women wanted the Job they could earn More doing a Soldier s laundry. During the civil War the surgeon general hired women As nurses and offered them 40 cents plus one ration a Clay. They were required to Cook clean and distribute supplies As Well As care Tor the sick. In 1901, the nurse corps became a permanent part of the army and nurses were appointed to three year assignments. The appointment could be renewed it the nurse had a satisfactory record for efficiency conduct an health. Nurses have since followed soldiers in combat from Normandy to new Guinea and from i son to Plesku. Today the stars and stripes presents the stories of just two of the Many army nurses who have cared Lor soldiers during War. It to injuries and physical  said afm who is now 66 and living in Munich. You had to understand them not condemn them had he ability of realize what was hurling i could empathize with  soldiers often were sent Lor treatment after showing erratic aggressive or violent behaviour. Sometimes there were other symptoms. One Young Soldier could not raise his arms. There was no physical cause Tor the problem so the doctors sought another reason. We gave him an injection of truth serum sodium pent Othal and he told a Story of How he had been on patrol with his Best Friend from Home Kahn said. The men were on their Way from France to Germany when they came into a Small quiet town. The Soldier said someone suddenly trod a his intend. Killing him. The Young Soldier blamed himself for his Friend s death because he had not thrown a grenade at the attackers. The guilt made him extremely  Kahn said. Eventually the Young Man Gol bolter but the reason for his problem had to be revealed to him gently she said. In the 1940s, there were few drugs available to help psychiatric patients. We had very few chemical helps but we had Good doctors and very Good medics and we managed she said. Kahn also worked at the 199th general Hospital in Rennes France. The Hospital had been run by an order of Catholic nuns before it was occupied by the americans. Although she liked psychiatric nursing Kahn sometimes wanted to be closer to the Battle front Marcia l. Kahn tint la Munich today. Arrow in photo at right Points to her marching with Otharn Riet in be Day a a by Sharon Johnson new York times he nursing profession promises lobe a wide open Job Field in the United states during the coming decade the problem will be in making it attractive enough to entice Young americans and to keep experienced nurses seeking better Job opportunities and working conditions from leaving. Since the 1970s, nursing has been one of the fast growing Fields in health care and thai growth is expected to continue in the 1990s," said Howard v. Stambler director of the Bureau of health professions in the . Department of health and human services. In 1985 there were 1.5 million nurses and by 2000 there Are projected to be 2 million nurses. Opportunities will expand in hospitals which traditionally have employed most nurses As Well As among new employers such As health maintenance organizations Oul patient clinics and hospices he said. There will be new opportunities Lor nurses working Wilh patients As Well As those who want logo into teaching or administration. Filling these vacancies won t be easy. Or. Gail Harkness acting Dean Al the bos Ion University school of nursing said enrolment in nursing schools was declining because today s students had options in other health care Fields. By the year 2000." she said "40 percent of the nation s pharmacists 21 percent of its physicians and 16 percent of its dentists Are expected Lobo women " she said that by that time there might be a shortage of 370,000 nurses Wilh Bachelor s degrees the minimum training that experts believe is necessary to care for critically ill patients. Fewer students Are also expected to became registered nurses. Al the turn of mis Century 66,400 students Are expected to become rns yearly a decline of More than a third from 1936. In addition about 30 percent of those who have nursing credentials have left the Field for Ono reason or another. Soma have taken time out to raise a family while others have simply quit. There Are no Sta titties on How Many women and others have done this according to the Federal Bureau of health professions. Judy l. Kaiser of Hartford conn., worked As a stall Nurss at several hospitals before turning to a career in business. After five years of working in intensive care units she said i began to feel stifled i did t like the hours and the Opportunity to move Inlo administration seemed  she joined the travellers insurance co. In Hartford As a member of the company s patient advocate program. But for those who want them nursing jobs will be readily available. Or. Margrella styles president of the american nurses association said that employment prospects were so Bright thai almost everyone who wanted to would be Able to find a position in the lipid in big cities As Well As Rural areas. Nurses who want to go into Independent practice will be Able to do so As Well As those who want to work on Largo stalls of major health care institutions she said she and other experts cited the growing average age of americans and the now emphasis on preventive health care As reasons thai oppor Malics or nurses will Rise in the 90s. The number of americans Over 65 is expected to increase Over nine million by 2000 irom 1980. And this will increase the demand Lor nurses who wish to work in nursing Homes the second largest employer of nurses Starn Bler said employment by hospitals will continue to be Strong in the 1990s, said Karen a. Hart president of the National association for health care recruiters. Some hospitals in the Southwest Are already reporting shortages of nurses and that trend May spread to other parts of the nation she said. Nursing schools have been broadening their search for students seeking minority members men women seeking second careers and others who have shown Tittle interest in the profession in the past. According to the Federal Bureau of health professions Only 10 percent of he nation s nurses in 19s4 were minority members and 3 percent were men. Styles said that some schools of nursing were recruiting minority students in High school end giving Ham extra help in science so that they would have the academic preparation required to enter the Field. Hospitals and other employers Are setting up training programs to enable men who have served As medical corpsmen in the armed forces and people who have Liberal arts degrees to qualify for licensing exams. Stylos estimated Thel the average salary for nurses was $21.000 in 19b6. An increase o $4,000 from 1980. A big problem facing the  she said is that salaries Don t increase very much As nurses gain experience. Alter 20 years a nurse might be earning $30,000, which is not much compared with what a new graduate  to co Iteck this inequity an increasing number of employers at establishing clinical ladders so that nurses who Complete advanced naming in specialities and have several years of experience can receive higher salaries. Pagat4 the stars and stripes Friday f