Nurses’ Education Standards Studied

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 3

Nurses’ Education Standards Studied

(From Our Parliament ary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 2. I he Nurses and Midwives’ Amendment Bill will i be returned to the Social Services Committee after it passes its second reading so that minimum educational requirements for nurses can be examined.

Introducing the second reading I debate on the bill in Parliament today, ' the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) said that since the committee had considered the bill, there had been representations about minimum educational qualifications.

Mr McKay said he | thought the best way I to solve the problem was to return the bill to the committee for further consideration. Evidence would be taken, and he hoped those concerned would avail them- : selves of this oppor- | (unity. The bill strengthens the position and raises the standard of community nurses. The qualification for this standard was described bj’ one member as “higher than an aide, but not as high as a registered nurse.”

Miss M. B. Howard (Opp., Sydenham) said that.the important ingredient in making the community nurse idea work was to improve the status of this position. The bill provided an entirely new type of nurse, and there were provisions for tests after 12 months’ service and again after an additional six months’ service.

Mr H. E. L. Pickering (Govt.. Rangiora) suggested there could be some form of internal nursing examination which would permit community nurses to train in general nursing.

‘■‘■Somersault” Mrs E. E. McMillan (Opp., Dunedin North) said the amendment showed “a complete somersault on the part of the Minister. “If he had taken the committee into his confidence before there would have been no need for the bill to go back to the committee. “rm amazed at his change of attitude in view of what he expressed to the committee. “I’m pleased, however, that he has changed his mind,” she said. Mrs McMillan said the bill could mean a greater number of nurses. “Girls will be able to start their training as community nurses at the age of 164 and this means the profession might be able to get those girls who. when leaving high school, would like to take up nursing but are unable to do so because of thei<- age. “Very often after leaving

school they find themselves a congenial occupation and doj not go on with their original intention to take up nursing,"! she said. At Christchurch statisticsi had shown 40 per cent of girls starting nursing training fell out before completing their course.

“Some of them might be gathered back into the fold through this community nursing system,” she said. Mrs R. Stevenson (Govt., Taupo) said community nursing could well provide a new sphere of employment for widows and other women who, for various reasons, found it necessary to make their own living. Mr G. A. Spooner (Opp., Wanganui) asked: What is school certificate when it comes to this profession? “It is difficult to understand why such a certificate is necessary for entry to the profession. It doesn’t make sense to say the certificate is in itself a good test.”

£614 A Year Sir Leslie Munro (Govt.. Waipa) told members it cost £614 yearly, excluding capital charges on such items as nurses’ homes, tutorial departments. libraries and recreation facilities, to train each nurse. Studies conducted at the Waikato Hospital School of Nursing showed that losses by resignation among trainee nurses without school certificate were more than twice as great as resignations among those with the qualification.

Study difficulties as a reason for resignation and. among those who remained in training, failure hi one or more of the progressive examinations were also markedly higher in the former category. “Nurses themselves want the school certificate requirement—not, after all, a very high requirement introduced. To do so could cost the country less through resignations,” he said. Mr W. W. Freer (Opp., Mt. Albert) objected to the term “community nurse” which he said was popularly confused with “district health nurse." He said: “We should continually press for the raising of educational qualifications Li any profession or trade.

But before we set a minimum educational standard, we must ensure that that standard has a steady value from year to year.” Mr G. F. Sim (Govt.. Piako) said that the bill fixed the status of nurses and ensured that nurses from overseas had suitable qualifications and a command of the English language. It should be a source of pride that New Zealand nurses, when they went overseas, were regarded as among the world’s best.

False Standard Mr J. G. Edwards (Opp., Napier) said that the school certificate standard could be a false one. He thought also that tutor sisters should be taught how to teach. He did not think “community nurse” was a good title. It gave a false impression.

Mr N. J. King (Opp., Waitemata) said that it was important that trainee nurses should have a certain education qualification. It seemed that the school certificate was the only qualification suggested so far. In reply, Mr McKay, said he was pleased at the comment on the bill. It was better for the amendment to be brought in at this stage and the bill referred back, because if the amendment had been adopted by the committee initially, people who wanted to oppose it would have been unable to do so.

The term “community nurse” had attracted some criticism, he said —but it was the title favoured by the World Health Organisation. The bill was then committed. On Mr McKay’s motion it was referred back to the Social Services Committee for consideration of the remit on minimum educational qualifications.

Principal Appointed.—Mr W. G. Collett, aged 56, of Dunedin, has been appointed principal of King Edward Technical College, Dunedin. He suceeds Mr C. I. C. Scollay who has been appointed principal of the Otago Polytechnic.