NURSES' CERTIFICATES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 331, 19 October 1908, Page 6

NURSES' CERTIFICATES.

A DISPUTED POINT. (BT TEI.EGKAMI.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Chrlstchurch, October 17. At a meeting of nurses, medical men, and others on Thursday night, under the presidency of Miss Mac Lean, Lady Inspector of Hospitals, a trained .nurses' association, similar to those established in the other centres, was founded. During the proceedings Miss Mac Lean said that nest year there would probably bo an amendment of tho Nurses' Registration Act, but before anything was filially decided tho amendments would be submitted to the association for its opinion. ! Archdeacon Averill inquired whether tho rules of tho association would not debar nurses trained in private hospitals. Miss Mac Lean replied that tho association should not take nurses who were not eligible to bo on the Government register, as that would lower tho standard of nursing. Therb was no training in private hospitals. Thoso institutions did not undertake to train their nurses. Li the future amendment of the Act the nurses' in private hospitals would be considered.

There are indications that this reference to the inferiority of uncertificated nurses and nurses in private hospitals will be keenly resented. Already newspaper correspondents aro taking up the cudgels on their bohalf. "It surprises me," writes one, "that doctors could silently listen to a reply like that when they themselves engage the uncertificated nurses to' nurso so many of their cases that require the skill and attention of a conscientious nurse. If certificates bo more essential than reliable praotitioners' testimonials, then why are nurses trained in private hospitals not allowed to sit for examination? Truly trained and certificated nurses aro leaving the hospitals for private work every year, and many competent nurses leave beforo their term of training expires; but they' aro not thought .worthy of membership as they might tend to lower tho standard of nurses."

Another correspondent says that in the last two years ho has been several times in the hands of uncertificated nurses, and found them careful in following the doctor's • instructions, kind, and not nearly as assertive as their certificated sisters. "It does not necessarily follow, becauso a nurso is uncertificated, that she is incompetent. Practical knowledge is much before theoretical, and I think the majority of doctors will agree with me."