In an attempt to help alleviate the shortage of nurses following World War II, Edward E. Gallahue, president of American States Insurance Company, an Indianapolis-based company, and a Methodist layman, decided to recruit nurses for “like we sell insurance.” He enlisted the cooperation of the church hierarchy and visited Methodist summer youth camps.
After a film and a short talk on nursing as a career, he distributed cards and asked the young women to indicate interest. Using the cards as a prospect file, ministers paid calls and follow-up mailings went out regularly. In 1949, Gallahue’s efforts resulted in the largest graduating nursing class in the history of the hospital. The recruitment program, called the Gallahue Plan, was so successful that it became the subject of national attention and an article in .
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