ABSTRACT
The history of nursing in the United States is marred by sexism and racism. Since the 1960s the demand for nurses has periodically outgrown the supply, hesitatingly but ultimately driving up salaries in the nursing profession. In response to the recurring nursing shortage, the federal government reauthorized the Nurse Training Act and has authorized new legislation such as the Nursing Shortage Reduction Act of 1988, which extended previous federal assistance and added additional funds for nurses working in areas of extreme nursing shortages. Early in 1988 the American Medical Association (AMA) Board of Trustees approved a proposal to develop a new allied health profession, the registered care technologist (RCT). The AMA proposed to focus recruitment of RCTs among low-income minority high school students. Approximately 350,000 registered nurses are members of labor unions. That is about one of every five registered nurses in the labor force.
