STATUS OF NURSES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19917, 2 May 1930, Page 17

STATUS OF NURSES.

PROTEST AGAINST AMENDING 0*» BILL. -Strong opposition raised at the annual meeting' of .the'- Christchurch branch of the National .Council of Women the proposed amendment to tho proposed amendment to the-Nurses arid ' Midwives Registration Bill. Mrs T. 11. Williams (Trained Nurses' Avocation), in bringing the matter, before the notice of the meeting, stated that the amendment would lead to inefficiency in the medical service.rendered to the public. The need, an efficient, system was demonstrated by the demand for a greater technical and more comprehensive training in all branches of nursing. The nursing,.in a private hospital could not conform,with the.syllabus- laid down' by the Nurses and Midwives' Registration Board, as no' infectious cases were taken,-- ana there 'was very little experience m either medical or .chronic cases. Private hospitals usually specialised in surgical work alone. Reciprocity■ with .other -countries would be seriously affected. New Zealand was one of the few. Uominions in the proud position of tun reciprocity with; Great Britain, The proposed change would mean that a nurse going to Great Britain would be. obliged to pass an examination before registration- . tn A Patients paying high.Joes' expected trained nursing service. They would refuse to have their infirmity used tor teaching purposes. It would be, impossible to d.emohstrate methods or procedure on private patients. Mrs A. I. Froer- stated that she had sooken to Miss Muir, -Matron of tho Christchurch Hosoital, and oad. promised, support for -this worthy objec"We" cannot- afford to reduce the efficiency of the' nurses, and it s>eems to me a very serious matter to consider the allowing of-girls to be trained in private hospitals, where they will not get the experience." . The experience gained, continued Mrs Fraer, should be soemtlung more than text-book knowledge. The big .public hospitals were the only training Erouud for certain cases. bhe suggested that a resolution of support should be passed and a precis sent forward to all Dominion branches with th<J object of maintaining the high standard required In. supporting Mrs Fraer's remarks;. Mrs, W..G. Roberts said she .t-hougbt it would be serious to lower dnrd of nursing, thus an immense amoiint of harm to the system of. interchange with'."Great • Britain.. .The following {resolution, .proposed Iff Mrs W. G. Roberts, seconded, by Mrs Houston. , was carried unanimously ; "That the National. Council

of Women views with alarm the suggestion of the Minister for Health that private hospitals should be opened as training schools for, ther training of Kuw Zealand nurses, as* the Council considers that, such a provision would only tend to lower the high status held by New Zealand nurses, and asks the Dominion Executive to. move in the'matter."' • ...,..,