The
need for nurses during the second World War motivated
Congress to pass an act in 1943, known as the Bolton
Act, for Congresswoman Frances Bolton of Ohio who
sponsored the bill in the House, establishing the
Cadet Nurse Corps of the Public Health Service.
Under
the terms of this Act, Federal scholarships in nurse
education were made available to qualified young
women upon enrollment in schools of nursing whose
curricula and nursing facilities met standards prescribed
by the Service.
Miss
Lucile Petry was chosen by Surgeon General Parran
as chief of the newly established Division of Nurse
Education, which was to administer this program.
During
its 3 years of existence the Cadet Nurse Corps provided
a great reservoir of trained nurses for the military
and prevented the collapse of civilian nursing service
on the home front.
Presentation
of the Cadet Nurse Corps flag to Nurse Director Lucile Petry
by Surgeon General Thomas Parran (reading), at ceremonies in
Washington, D.C., in June 1944.
Cadet
Nurse Corps Posters
Poster Index
