DISTRIBUTION OF NURSING SCHOOLS - 1957* (Countries distorted on a scale proportionate to population) F. SCARCITY OF NURSES The shortage of nurses in the United States is a perennial subject of concern, but the worldwide shortage is an even greater problem. In proportion to its population, North America has 8 times the number of nurses that are to be found in South America or Asia, and 12 times the number in Africa. Europe is only slightly behind North America in this respect. The disproportionate shortage of nurses in the underdeveloped countries is due largely to the fact that women have a low social status and nursing is not considered a profession. Nursing is looked upon as low-grade manual labor which no woman of the educated classes would undertake, and few women have sufficient basic education to take nursing training even if they were so minded. The fact that nursing involves the care of both sexes constitutes a further barrier. The full use of nurses has never been demonstrated in these countries. Neither the public nor the local physicians are accustomed to nursing service or have any appreciation of its value. The situation will improve only as the basic education of the population improves and a better understanding of the importance of nursing service develops. |