Hospitals’ Need For Married Nurses

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31167, 17 September 1966, Page 2

Hospitals’ Need For Married Nurses

(New Zealand Press Assoctatton,

HAMILTON, September 16.

Husbands should encourage their graduate nurse wives to return to their career if the wives wanted to, the director of the Division of Nursing (Miss S. Lowe) said in Hamilton yesterday.

Addressing graduates of the Waikato Hospital School of Nursing, Miss Lowe said: “I have a plea for husbands. Please don’t stand between your wife and the service she can give to New Zealand’s health services and nursing.” Many married women were now giving necessary help in hospitals and some had been appointed matrons. ’They can earn up to £2200 a year, as well as giving needed service to the community,” Miss Lowe said.

One married woman had been appointed matron of a 1000-bed hospital only two weeks after her marriage, said Miss Lowe.

At the same ceremony. Mr E G. Guy, chairman of Waikato Hospital Board, suggested that, with further special-

ised training, nurses could undertake some of- the routine tasks now done by medical staff.

“We are facing a crisis in New Zealnd's health services with shortage of medical staff. Nurses with specialised training could help fill the gap until more doctors are available,” he said.