N.Z. 'SHORT OF NURSING’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33816, 12 April 1975, Page 6

N.Z. 'SHORT OF NURSING’

(N.Z. Press Association) I WELLINGTON. April 11. Less than half the potential nursing force was employed in nursing, the Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) told the opening of the annual conference of the New Zealand Nurses’ Association. i The N.Z.N.A. represented 114,000 nurses of the 70,000 registered in New Zealand. This meant that some 56,000 people were not putting their nursing qualifications to full

[use. , “Obviously, many of the : people on the register are in I no position to return to their I profession; indeed some of ■the registrations go hack to ; 1899 and beyond, but the fact remains that there are thousands of nurses not nursing : for various reasons.’’ In the field of midwifery.; there were 10,560 registered! midwives and of the 3060; with current practising certi-] ficates, the number actually; practising was only 960. New Zealand was not short; ;of nurses, but it was short! of nursing, particularly in the I community, Mr Rowling! said.

A recent report by the World Health Organisation on community nursing needs put the smallest need for nurses in hospitals, a slightly greater need in urban health centres, an even greater need in the smaller health centres .and the greatest need in the community at large, notably ; the more rural communities. I However, the report [showed that while hospital patients represented the srnal- ; lest proportion of those who 1 needed health and nursing [ care, they got the largest pro- ; portion of that care. “We could say that our ; nursing resources are being ; used too much as a sickness

J | service and not enough as a i]health service. This is reflecs[ted in nurse training,” said r|Mr Rowling. ■ ] In last year’s Board of 1 [ Health report on improved 1! nursing services it was re--5; commended that nurses fl should have more opportunflity to put their knowledge | to work at the planning level, t[Mr Rowling said. 1! “We are already seeing; -[that at work on the Rolle-! Aston new city project, where ’■the group considering the. - health service requirements! includes-a nurse. We also see; ■ three senior nurses in the] ’White Paper consultative! 3 groups.”