TRAINING OF NURSES

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27705, 8 July 1955, Page 2

TRAINING OF NURSES

Better Education Advocated RECOGNITION WITHIN UNIVERSITIES (New Zealand Press Association) ROTORUA, July 7. “Education is as necessary in nursing as it is in any other walk of life, but until we have nursing recognised within our universities, as medicine and teaching are, we will never enjoy the status enjoyed by these other professions,” said Miss F. J. Cameron, Director of the Health Department’s Nursing Division, speaking to the annual conference of the New Zealand Student Nurses’ Association at Rotorua. v “If we are to have today, as everyone is recommending, ‘better selection of nursing students,’ how can this be achieved unless we have better educational opportunities to offer the undergraduate and graduate of a school of nursing training?” Miss Cameron continued. *■

“I am of the opinion that if we are to attract the well-educated girl to train as a nurse we must offer her more than three years’ training and a year’s post-graduate course to prepare her for special fields of nursing. She must know that she can get as high a qualification if she decided to be a nurse as that offered her in allied professions.’’ Miss Cameron said it was considered by most authorities that the student nurse should be carefully selected, of good secondary school standard of education, and not be younger than 18. “Nursing education must have as its aim the welfare of the patient, as well as the education of the nurse,” Miss Cameron added. “Any scheme which makes the hospital serve only as a laboratory for the nurses’ practice does not fully fulfil this aim. It may be that a step midway between the two can be found.

“It can be truly stated that nursing education has not yet emerged from the apprenticeship system, as many of its allied professions have done. So long as the nursing service is required in return for education, this will remain the method of training.” It had been reported from Canada, Miss Cameron said, that when the school had complete control the student nurses could be trained at least as satisfactorily in two years as in three and in better conditions, but the training had to be paid for in money, instead of in service.

Miss Cameron said that in New Zealand the experience given in routine tasks was far beyond the amount required, there being unnecessary repetition of the same task, particularly during the first two years. Not enough was done to teach the nurse in the wards about the things she was being required to do, and there was too great a tendency to train a nurse to care for all patients, rather than give her the basic nursing principles common to all nursing. Specialisation should come after training, she said. There was also some lack in the system of training that caused many who entered to leave before completing training.

WOMEN’S DIVISION OF FEDERATED FARMERS

Southbrook-Flaxton.—Mrs C. Shuttleworth presided over the June meeting ol the Southbrook-Flaxton branch of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers. Mrs J. Rowe was welcomed as a new member. Donations were made to Heritage, the Crippled Children’s Society, and the New South Wales flood relief fund. Mrs Page won the monthly competition. A demonstration of basket making was given by Mrs Hassall and Mrs Loffhagca. of Rangiora. Competitions resulted as follows;—large bloom: Mrs L. Smith 1. Mrs £r llen 2’. Mrs L. Kolkman 3. Small bloom: Mrs Smith 1, Mrs N. Archer 2, Mrs Scoltock 3 ' Parsnip: Mrs Atkinson 1, Mrs Matheson 2. Mrs Dunlop 3. Bootees: Mrs Scoltock 1, Mrs Archer 2, Mrs Atkinson 3. Port Levy.—Mrs Ford presided at the meeting of the Port Levy branch of tne Women’s Division of Federated Farmers, and welcomed Mrs Norton and Miss WakeInvitations to the birthday parties oI the Diamond Harbour branch and the Little River Country Women’s Institute were received. Mrs Ford read the report of the provincial executive. Arrangements tor tne birthday party were discussed and it was decided to have a social evening f P r . m embers and other women in the bay. A bring and buy for the Greek appeal brought in £2 6s. Mrs Owen Williams gave an interesting demonstration of floral work using berries and ferns. Competition results were as follows:—large bloom : Mrs Haley 1, Mrs Blunden 2. Small bloom: Mrs Blunden and Miss L. Richfield (equal! I’ rs 3 - Three biscuits: Mrs Moore !’• Mrs Grennel, Mrs Haley, and Miss L. Richfield (equal) 2. Mrs Haley won the monthly cup. Hostesses for the evening were Mrs Acton-Adams and Mrs Coop. Russell’s Flat.—The June meeting of the Russells Flat branch of the Womens Division of Federated Farmers was heid at the home of Mrs S. G. Buxton. Mrs Buxton presided over a good attendance of members. It was decided to hold a committee meeting to arrange a programme for the year. Mrs Buxton was elected a delegate in the Dominion conference. Hostesses for the afternoon were Mrs Collier and Miss Bloor. Competitions for the month resulted as follows: —nut loaf: Mrs Hawke 1, Mrs Proutmg 2 Mrs Jonn Searle 3. Large bloom: Mrs Adams 1 Mrs Davies 2. Miss Bloor 3. Small cluster: Mrs Adams 1. Mesdames Reed and Pierce equal) 2, Mesdames ColaJ?d _, Hawke (equal) 4. Small bloom: Mrs Reed 1, Miss Bloor 2. Mrs Hosking 3. Large cluster: Mrs Davies 1, Mrs Hawke tt Mrs Collier 3. Indoor section: Mrs Hawke. At the May meeting a health film was screened and a silver coin collection was taken up. The sum of £2 10s was collected and given to the Russell’s Flat sub-centre of the Red Cross Society. Diamond Harbour-Purau.—The Diamond Ilarbour-Purau branch of the omen s Division of Federated Farmers celebrated its coming-of-age with a party. T l ie (Mrs Wood) welcomed 30 guests, and regretted that many of tne provincial executive officers were unable to be present. Mrs R. E. Waghorn, provincial secretary, planted two English yew trees in the grounds of the community hall, and there was a humorous ?l ay “£? ad 2 ng - s P r ays were presented to Mrs Waghorn and Mrs Gower, and to four foundation members. Mrs Hunter lit 21 candles which were extinguished by Mrs Mrs 'X ood ar,d Mrs Jackson cut the birthday cake, which was distributed among the guests. There were many messages of congratulations and best wishes. The cup for the most competition points for the year was won by Mrs Clibborn, the tr °P h y tor the most entries for the year. Swannanoa.—Mrs Davis presided over a good attendance of members at the June meeting of the Swannanoa branch of the Women s Division of Federated Farmers. P^id ent attended the Dominion conn<he n» nd the month. Mrs Loffhagen. Mrs Martyn, and Mrs Bowman, of Rangiora, attended the meeting, and Mrs Bowman gave an interesting talk on first aid in the home. Competition resuJ’Vvere _ 1 as 1 fo,l(WS: -Single bloom: Mrs Catherwood 1 Mrs Plaskett and Mrs WjoTn’so'i; 3 Winter L Mlss M - Pclr ' :

«4 B * i i ght< i n ‘ Aranui -— Mrs Moses preed at the June meeting of the New Brighton-Aranui branch of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers. There was an excellent attendance of members. Two new members were welcomed by P res,den t- It was decided to assist the Country Women’s Association, Australia. by sending tins of full cream milk powder for flood victims. Mrs L. G Wallbrock. secretary for the Nurse Maude Association, made an appeal for street colinlt? rS w» t vJ’ eW ? r , i , ghton - Competition resuits were as follows:—spray: Mrs OsrS)?,? 1 Mrs Collins 1. M.-s Carmalt 2. Mrs C. Ellis 3. Medium bloom: Mrs Collins Mrs Osbourne 2. Large bloom: Mrs Osbourne 1. Mrs Bushel! 2 OnUISV I ™* 3 m f luster: Mrs Ell is 1. Mrs Collins 2, Mrs Elder 3.

ENGAGEMENT ■ Engagement Notices must De signed bv both parties ) The engagement is announced of Ivor Prichard, Selwyn avenue, Mission Eay Auckland, to Esme Stuart, daughter of Dr. and Mrs G. H. Ussher, Sefton street. Timaru.

Melbourne now has a washing machine hire-out service. You simply telephone a central depot and a machine is delivered free, and is yours for the day at a charge of 10s Tuition is provided, and any housewife can pick up the essential mechanics of the machine in a few minutes. All the models will spin-dry. Apricot and Pineapple Slice, and Jelly Sponge—two delicious specials for this week-end, on sale today at the Ethne Tosswill Cake Shop, 123 Cashel street. —Advt