DELIVERY OF BABIES BY NURSES EXPLAINED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29061, 25 November 1959, Page 2

DELIVERY OF BABIES BY NURSES EXPLAINED

(New ZMUMia Press Auoaatwn)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 24. All maternity nurse students had been delivering babies under the supervision of a doctor since 1925, and there was nothing new in the practice, said the Director of Nursing, Miss F. J. Cameron, today. Miss Cameron had been asked to comment on a statement from an Oamaru mothers’ group that the delivery of babies by student nurses “as Introduced in the new basic curriculum for nurses,’’ was a matter of national importance which should be challenged at the highest levels. Commenting on points made in the group’s statement, Miss Cameron said delivery was conducted by a doctor of the patient’s choice, and the decision on any case being used for teaching rested with the patient and her doctor. While fully recognising the need for teaching, the group considered it should be done only for medical students and trained nurses, or if for nurses in general training, then the doctor should personally conduct the case and the nurse should assist.

Miss Cameron said that nurses in training actually did observe that.

The group stated that a number of people were concerned over the new curriculum, most particularly those parts requiring student nurses to' deliver five babies as part of their training Until this delivery by student nurses was deleted from the curriculum, there were several safeguards which the group felt were vital to the expectant mother’s peace of mind. First, the expectant mother should have the right of refusal. Second, no student nurse should deliver a baby if the mother’s doctor was not present, except in such hospitals where bona fide maternity nurses and midwives were trained. Third, facilities should be provided for the mother who wished td have her baby at home. “The group would imply that the nurse does the delivery alone,” said Miss Cameron. Deliveries were under the doctor’s supervision, and no student nurse would be doing any deliveries except in her third year. , Labour wards, were always in charge of a trained midwife, so no mother was ever left without skilled attention, added Miss

Cameron. No woman was denied a home delivery if she wanted to have her baby at home. There were nurses working in the community who would be prepared tb attend the case. The Nurses and Midwives Act, 1925, followed an inquiry into maternal deaths, and a recommendation that maternity nurses should be trained so that the patient being attended by a doctor could get efficient care, said Miss Cameron.