NURSE DISPENSERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 122, 24 May 1909, Page 9

NURSE DISPENSERS.

, 'jrß_eai_C_ 3OAKD'S OBJECOTON. : (By Telegraph.—O-n Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, tMs day\. ; ' Interviewed ~bj a "Post" reporter in reference to the proposal of Dr. Mackellar, of Auckland, that hospital nurses should after three years" training be qualifled-to act as dispensers iritriiii the ■meaning of the Pharmacy Act, a leading member of the Pharmaceutical Board give reasons for the Board declaring against the proposal. It is contended, said the critic, that during the three years of their training nurses have to torn their attention to many duties, and .wittld not be able to sufficiently specialise'in dispensing to qualify themBelves in knowledge of details and manual dexterity in compounding to iank equally with persons who had worked for three years in an opea pharmacy. It is also held that the necessary variety of experience 13 not obtainable in a hospital dispensary. I Moreover, the scope of the hospital dispensary is mainly confined to dispensing, bnt, in addition to that work, the "open pharmacy" is concerned with the selling of poisons and other powerful drugs, inbject to certain laws and conditions, and it is essential that an apprentice Ehonld be thoroughly instructed in all ■ these matters. Finally, it is argued that tie public interest demands that persons ilonld not be permitted to set up as dispensers till they have served three years n> an open pharmacy, and is mairt- / tainei that dnty^~ in such a re- > etrtctei sphere as a hospital dispensary should not empower a nurse to practise chemistry on the public. It is also submitted that hospital boards are not debarred at present from training nurses to act in tleir own dispensaries.