The 1930s: The Great Depression

In the early 1930s, WSGNA Districts reported more nurses, fewer cases and shorter private duty nursing calls. As the situation worsened, nurses turned to other lines of work to earn a living. An “over-production” of nurses and high unemployment led to higher educational requirements, shorter working hours (the eight-hour work day begins) and general duty staff nursing in hospitals — all of which were viewed as potential solutions to these problems. Toward the end of the decade, advances in education, new procedures in medicine and openings of new occupational fields for nurses seemed to indicate a brighter future for nursing.

1930

Due to the steadily growing problem of unemployment during the Great Depression, WSGNA Districts concentrated their efforts on fundraising projects to help their members who were on relief.

1931

The University of Washington began offering supervisory courses at Harborview Hospital. Many nurses became qualified for supervisory and administrative positions.

1932

• King County reported that private duty nurses were paid, on average, only $25 per month. In Tacoma, the District collected $394 for an unemployment fund to provide one week’s work for 16 nurses at Pierce County Hospital.
  
• A WSGNA-sponsored insurance program called the “Nurses Protective Policy” was launched. The program was designed to protect the earning ability of nurses during illness and accidents.

1933

WSGNA achieved successful passage of an amendment to the Nurse Practice Act that called for the appointment of a supervisor of nursing schools to ensure the quality of nursing education.

1934

The American Nurses Association and WSGNA both adopted eight-hour day resolutions.

1935

Hospitals and advances in medicine created a growing demand for more psychiatric and general duty staff nurses.

1936

A scholarship fund was established as a memorial to May S. Loomis, the first president of WSNA. The fund, still available to members through the Washington State Nurses Foundation, was specified to be used for loans to graduate nurses for further education.

1938

The first General Duty Nurse Standards of Employment were approved by WSNA’s Board, and a resolution is adopted that discourages “affiliation of our members with trade unions or other similar organizations.”

1939

• The model of “team” nursing assignments began — with graduate nurses and practical nurses as the “team.”
  
• The WSGNA Legislative Committee was requested to study the possibility of licensing practical nurses.