PUPIL NURSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 191, 15 August 1939, Page 10

PUPIL NURSES.

WORK ON NIGHT DUTY.

REGISTRATION BOARD'S PLAINT

(Bj- Telegraph.— Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI. this «lnv

Resentment at what he describes a« the "unfnir Attitude' , of the Nuive* and Midwivcs' Kfjii.-trittic.il Hoard regarding tlie hums worked i v nurwen ut the Whongarei District Howpital was exi.rested I),V the chnirninii of the hospital board Mr. .T. A. S. MacKay, yesterday. A letter was received from the board which stated that r.» n result of n recent inspection of the institution it hnd been observed that pupil riinvwH were being kept on night duty for varying periods. The board's instruction to hos~pitals acting as training schools for nurse.-, the letter pointed out. were that no pupil nurses should be placed on night duty for more than one month at a time. Referring to conditions at the maternity annexe, the letter stated that in view of the high occupied bad rat/ it was apparent that the hours worked by the trained staff mii-t he excessive mid that an additional sister should be' at onco appointed. "To sny that the staff has been working varying periods is not correct," said Mr. MacKfty. "An eight-weekly period has lieen approved, and this letter is the flret intimation we have hr.d to the contrary. ,. It was decided to notify the registration board to that elTert.' "We have advertised on \urio\i-. occasion,, for an additional lister for the maternity annexe, ,, said Mr M He . Key. referring to the second point'rai, r<l in tlie letter, "and it is only >o<v that we have been nble to secure "t'te uerviceg of a suitable nurse." i