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The post-second World War period of reconstruction was a time of ferment for Canadian hospitals, and consequently, for hospital nursing work and education. Demand for hospital services, especially nursing, increased dramatically. At the same time, fewer young women were willing to enroll in hospital nurse-training programs. This article is a case study of how one voluntary western hospital - the Calgary General Hospital - grappled with the post-second World War shortage of both graduate nurses and student nurses, at a time of transition from a small, cottage-type hospital into a large, complex urban institution. The analysis offers insights into today's economically driven and politically controlled health care delivery system restructuring, while illuminating the contributions of one of Canada's least known nurse leaders - Gertrude May Hall.

The purpose of this historical research was to analyze the 1967 restructuring of the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing (CAUSN) from a powerless, loose affiliation of individual nurse academics into a potentially powerful association of deans and directors. After its 1967 restructuring, CAUSN became active nationally and collaborated with the Canadian Nurses Association on doctoral education, accreditation for nursing education programs, and baccalaureate entry to practice. It also successfully implemented a national program of voluntary accreditation of baccalaureate education. The transformation of CAUSN was analyzed using primary data located in the Queen's University Archives, Ottawa, Ontario, the Canadian Nurses Association Archives, Ottawa, Ontario, and from selected interviews. Secondary data was used to augment and corroborate interpretation of primary data.