Nursing Degree "Imperative"

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32252, 21 March 1970, Page 2

Nursing Degree "Imperative"

Nursing in New Zealand would, be teft behind if university degree courses wert not offered, Miss J. Taylor, former matron-in-chief of the Auckland Hospital Board, said at the Christchurch School of N u r s I ng graduation ceremony recently. Degree courses were available in overseas countries, including the developing nations. Nursing schools also provided courses, shorter than New Zealand’s training period, in which the student was entirely engaged in study, she said. This had led to improvements in the standard of nursing, and more highly qualified people were entering the profession. “It is imperative that our education resources be broadened and developed to include, in the near future, a degree course in nursing," said Miss Taylor. i Nurses today faced exciting but demanding times.

The demand for hospital r treatment was on a scale and .- sophisticated technical level • never previously envisaged, i she said. 1 Science provided every opportunity for nurses to re- • main at the bedside. Monitor- . ing screens in intensive-care

I units showed the patient's reI action to emotional stress and I physical discomfort. Miss Taylor urged nurses I to remember that in spite ? of technical advances the essentials of their service g would never change. “Excellence in nursing I must be equalled by excelI fence of nursing care.” Nurses had to develop the I ability to anticipate and preI vent the unhappiness, unI certainty, anxiety, and tenI sion which would affect a I patient’s well-being, she said. I “Although civilisation has I progressed, the basic need of I humanity has not changed. I Sympathy, compassion, genI uine concern find new meanI Ing and effectiveness in the I skill of modern nursing. “Don’t be carried away on the tide of efficiency. A hospital is for the sick, it is not il an educational and scientific d laboratory.” ■1 Miss Taylor told the graduI, ates the privilege of being a member of their profession >• demanded their participation >- and involvement in nursing -■ affairs. They must retain their e capacity to adapt to new

Ideas; progress required rethinking of the old. "Don’t prejudge ideas and methods being suggested simply because you were not trained in that way. “I wish you the joy of achievement which makes hard work a pleasure, and which is the result of work well done,” sihe said. Miss Taylor presented the medals and prizes to the 66 graduating nurses. Other speakers at the ceremony were the matron-in-chief of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, Miss D. R. Newman; Dr L. McH. Berry, medical - superintendent - inchief, and the chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, Dr L. C. L. Averill