CORRESPONDENCE. HOSPITAL NURSES. THE BRITISH AT RUHLEBEN.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16849, 1 June 1920, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

HOSPITAL NURSES.

THE BRITISH AT RUHLEBEN.

ro TIIK EDITOR OF "TH* I'RISS." Sir,—Dr. Fox's report on the conditions of work of the Chiistcluuch nursing staff does not read at all vincingly. If the conditions or Wuik are as perfect as Dr. Fox maintains, why roar so loudly? If everything is ail right, why get so cross about wliat may or may not have been said? Ihe report is i.ot as complete as cnc woulu like jn order that tue publij may juxige of tho true condition of aftairs. 'lho 6 a.m. to 2 shift of nurses in training has two half hour meals. In tho case of the 2 to 10 shift no mention is made of meal hours, nor in the case of the night shilt. W hat are the conditions that obtain in the smaller hospitals, Ashburton, .Ka:koura, otc.. How many houi-s of study per day are necessary that a nurse of average intelligence may pass her exams, creditably? ' How mauy lectures per week has a nurse to attend ? This all lias to be added to the daily work. It is stated that nurses build up astonishingly in physicnl condition af:er a few months in hospital. It would bo interesting to know tho percentage _of probationers who have to resign owing to their not being strong enough to do the work. The statement that the practice of pursing js a service of sacrifice and that no ideal can be obtained without it is surely pretty far fetched. That commercialism has taken away the beautiful traits of nursing character one can hardly believe. Surely present day nurses are quite the equal, in both the above respects, of those of 25 years ago. In the nursing of infectious cases and epidemics have they not proved only too willing to take all risks and sacrifices that their job [demands? That the overworked condition of nurses of the time before commercialism set in is essential to self sacrifice, to tho best traits of nursing, and to tho humanity of the job, is absolutely "unlikely." It would be essential to also know the percentage of nurses, staff nurses, and sisters, who break down at the hospital, also in the smaller hospitals. One could then judge whether the nursing staff controlled by tho North Canterbury Hospital Board is working under " much worse conditions than women in offices, shops, or factories. As far as I can gather from tho report, nurses in training arc allowed one day off per fortnight. This balances tho mual halfholiday of commcrro. Tho three weeks' holiday per year does not balance the forty-n.ino Sundays wovk-d per year. On Dr. Fox's own showing it seems evident that mir*es in training work six and a half day l ? per_ week, until tho tliree weeks' holiday is duo. —Yours, etc., CITIZEN.

TO THE EDITOIt OF "THE PRESS. '* ( Sir, —The cohimn you published about the above was about tlic most inspiring tiling I ever read. It makes one feci proud of one's nationality. I wonder if any "orders" or decorations wore bestowed on some of those splendid camp leaders. It would bo interesting £"<:r, if yon could up pometning about Donningtou Hall.—Yours, etc., P.T.