Case of Nurse Ross

Case 6: Nurse Ross

William M. Fox

University of Florida

The following situation was reported by Miss Jackson, who had known Miss Evelyn Ross for several years and had also worked in some of the same hospitals as Miss Ross on different occasions.

Miss Ross, a registered nurse, began working at Benton Hospital when she was 31 years old. This hospital was an industrial hospital in a fairly large city on the West Coast. The bed capacity of the hospital was about 150, but 50 to 100 patients received treatment daily through the hospital's clinic facilities. The hospital was built and operated by a large shipbuilding concern. All the employees of the company's shipyards and their dependents could receive medical care through the company's hospitalization plan.

The nursing staff was headed by a director of nurses who had two assistants. One was in charge of nursing services in the hospital, and the other was in charge of the clinic nursing services. However, the two departments operated as a coordinated unit, and personnel were exchanged between them in the event the work load became too heavy in either place.

The medical director of the hospital, Dr. Peake, was energetic and his manner was usually quite brusque. Although he was a stickler for discipline and efficiency, he was fair in his treatment of the staff and they respected him and cooperated well. Dr. Peake had many progressive ideas and had helped to build the hospital up from 75 to 150 beds. The new ideas he had were discussed in staff conferences. Any persons or heads of departments who might be affected by proposed changes participated in these conferences.

Miss Ross worked as a head nurse, both in the hospital and in the clinic, during her employment there. (Miss Jackson at that time was employed as assistant head nurse in the clinic.) Miss Ross resigned her position to enter the Army Nurse Corps as a first lieutenant....