Nurses ‘Mother Figures’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31322, 18 March 1967, Page 2

Nurses ‘Mother Figures’

If a nurse were to break through a patient’s emotional defences in hospital she must have compassion, Dr. P. J. Lawrence told nurses at the graduation ceremony at the Christchurch Hospital on Thursday evening.

When a person was put in a position of complete dependence in hospital, he tended to regress to childish attitudes and behaviour, he said.

In a state af anxiety he would put up defences, become aggressive, or withdraw. He would often resent help. In this emotional situation, the nurse became a mother figure and the patient began to “work out a few things,” he said. Personal relations became difficult for the nurse. She needed to be a very mature person.

In compassion, a “feeling with” the patient—not to be mistaken for pity or sympathy —a nurse could stand by and support the patient in his emotional disturbance. But first a nurse had to be honest with herself and to be aware of her own feelings. “Having recognised them and faced them, you are in a position to be compassionate,” he said.

Dr. Lawrence, professor of education at the University of Canterbury, said teachers and nurses had much in common. Both were involved in the “helping process,” in dealing with human beings. Dr. L. McH. Berry, super-intendent-in-chief of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, congratulated the nurses on the completion of their training and paid tribute to the teaching staff at the School of Nursing. Dr. L. C. L. Averill, chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, discussed the need for going ahead with the Christchurch Hospital building programme, in spite of New Zealand’s economic difficulties.

It was important that the hospital services be carried on and that the people of Canterbury support the board’s loan to continue its extensions, Dr. Averill said.

Medal For Service.—Mrs B. Henning was awarded the good service badge last week for 20 years work for the Akaroa sub-centre of the Red Cross Society.