Nurses Seek Aid For Research

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32068, 16 August 1969, Page 2

Nurses Seek Aid For Research

In a few days Christchurch business firms and many householders will receive notices from the New Zealand Nursing Education and Research Foundation, seeking public support. Each pamphlet wifi carry the symbol of skilled hands, the healing hands of a nurse, shown at right. The foundation needs $lOO,OOO for its fund to provide scholarships and travel grants for nurses to advance their education, to do research and to acquire specialised knowledge essential for the improvement of the nursing service in New Zealand. This is the first time nurses have turned to the public for funds. Before they did so they raised $25,000 within the nursing profession. With this amount, as well as gifts from the medical profession, hos-

pital administrative boards and other sources, the foundation had raised $52,000 when it launched its public appeal. The scholarships, in the main, will be named after notable New Zealand nurses. The first two awarded were in memory of Miss Flora Cameron, 0.8. E., the third will be named after Miss Mary Lamble, C.B.E. New Demands Every day new advances, new discoveries and new techniques are made in medicine. Every forward step, makes an extra demand for new skills and knowledge in nursing, the nurses say. If New Zealand is to gain from these advances, opportunities must be provided for nurses to specialise in such fields as nursing education, administration, nursing research, community health nursing, and advanced medical and surgical nursing. Donations to the appeal can be regarded as a personal investment. Everyone requires the assistance of a

nurse at some time in life. It is very likely that a gift to the foundation now will pay dividends later when the giver receives the vital benefits that some nurse has acquired through a study grant. Tax Exempt Any donation will be welcomed. All the money received will be used by the foundation. There are no administrative costs or salaries to be paid out of it as all the work is done on a voluntary basis. Donations qualify for tax exemption. Next week nurses will go round the city and suburban areas of Christchurch putting the "skilled hands” pamphlets in householders* letter boxes. Donations of coins or notes may be put In the envelope accompanying the pamphlet and posted to the given address. The local secretary of the foundation will collect these donations. Contributions may also be sent to Mrs E. M. Thomas, 62 Murray Place, Christchurch 1.