European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 11, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wii by Janet d Agostino medical writer he combat wounds that Marda l Kahn saw As a nurse in wild War ii could not be covered with bandages or cured with medi Elton instead it took time and empathy to help patients overcame the psychological injuries they suffered on the Battlefield. Kahn worked on a psychiatric Ward at the 168lh general Hospital in Melz France. Many of the patients sent there had been unable to Cope with the frustration and fear of combat and the pressure not to show any fear she Bald some men already had seeds of i Ness that germinated under the pressure of Battle. The work for me. Was very rewarding in fact i preferred american nurses have been eating for wounded soldiers since the revolutionary War when Gen. George Washington s 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 end offered them 40 cents plus one ration a Day. They were required to Coo clean and distribute supplies As Well As care for 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 he renewed if the nurse had a satisfactory record for efficiency conduct and health. Nurses have Sines followed soldiers in combat from Normandy to new Guinea and from Poson to pet Stu. Today the stars and stripes presents the stoves of jus t two of the Many army nurses who have cared Lor soldiers during War. Ii to injuries and physical wounds said Kahn who is now 66 and living in Munich. You had to understand hem not condemn them. I had the ability to realize what was hurting i could empathize with  soldiers often wore sent for treatment Aller showing erratic aggressive or violent behaviour. Sometimes there wore 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 pen Lothal and he told a Story of How he had been on patrol with his Best  Home Kahn said. The Man were on Ihal Way from France to Germany when they came into a Small quiet town. The Soldier said someone suddenly Irod at his Iriondo killing him. The Young Soldier blamed himself for hit Friend s death because he had not thrown a Grunado at the attackers. The guilt made him extremely Kahn said. Eventually the Young Man got bettor but the reason for Hie problem had to to revealed to him gently she a Ucli in the 1940s, there were few drugs available to help psychiatric patients. We had very few chemical helps but to 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 americana. Although she fixed psychiatric nursing Kahn sometimes wanted to be closer to the bottle front. Marota l. Kahn lives in Munich today. Arrow in photo at right marching with other nurses in be Day p. By Sharon Johnson new York times he nursing profession promises to be 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 last growing Fields in health care and that 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 1965 there were 1.5 million nurses and by 2000 there Are projected to be 2 million nurses. Opportunities with expand in hospitals which traditionally have employed most nurses As Well As among new employers such As health main tenant organizations out patient clinics and hospices it said. There will be new opportunities Tor Nurser Workmo Wilh patients As Well As those who want Lojec into teaching or administration. Filling these vacancies won i be Absy. Or. Gail Harkness acting Dean Al the Bosig University school of nursing said enrolment in Niit Friy schools was declining because today s stuck a to had options in other health care Fields. By the year 2000," she a id "40 percent of the nation s pharmacists 21 percent of its physicians and 16 percent of its dentists Are expected to be  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 Neca hey to care for critically Iii patients. Fewer Stude nodae also expected to become registered r at the turn of this Century 66,400 a fans Are expected to become rns yearly a decline of we than a third irom 1986. In addition about 30 percjjfol1 those who have nursing credentials have be Furneld or one reason or another. Some have to Kypfer out to raise a family while others have simply our Fere Are no statistics on How Many women and errs have done this according to she Federal Bureau Tealla professions. Judy l a War of Hartford Conn worked As a staff nurse at finial hospitals before turning to a career in Atter five years of working in intensive care uni she said i began to feel stifled. I did t like he a and the Opportunity to move into administration Ned limited she joined the travellers insurance co. In Hartford As a member of the company s patient advocate program. Bui for those who want them nursing jobs will be readily available. Or. Margretta styles president of the american nurses association said that employment prospects were so Bright that almost everyone who wanted to would to Able to find a position in the Field 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 Large Slajs of major Hea la care institutions she said. She and other experts cited the growing average age of americans and the new emphasis on preventive health Caro As reasons that opportunities for nurse will Rise in the 90s. The number of americans Over 65 is expected to increase Over nine million by 2000 from 1980. And this Wilt increase the demand Lor nurses who wish to work in nursing Homes the second largest employer of  Stambler 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 i wily members men women seeking second careers and others who have shown Little interest in the profession in the past. According to the Federal Bureau of health professions Only 10 percent of the nation s nurses in 1984 were minority members and 3 percent were men. Styles said that some schools of nursing were recruiting minority students in High school and giving them extra help in science so that they would have the academic preparation required to enter the Field hospitals and other employers Are Selling 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 esl rated that he average salary for nurses was $21,000 in 1966, an increase of $4,000 from i960. A big problem facing Iho profession 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 Correct this inequity an increasing number of employers Aie establishing clinical ladders so that nurses Olio Complete advanced training in specialities and have several years of experience can receive higher salaries Page 14 the stars and stripes