DUTIES'OF NURSES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2728, 24 March 1916, Page 3

DUTIES'OF NURSES

IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS

INQUIRY. AND A REPORT

Dr. T. H. A.. Valintine, InspeotorGeneral'of Hospitals, lias forwarded to the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the report of the Assist-ant-Inspector (Miss -H. Maclean) on the "Duties of Nurses in Public Hospitals." Miss Maclean visited the Wellington Hospital to make inquiries into the statements published in a local paper with regard to -cortain unpleasant duties performed by nurses. In all, some 23 nurses were questioned and the majority of them had no complaint to make of the work expected of them. Some asserted ■ that they found certain duties in connection with the chronic patients very disagreeable, but they considered these duties were part of a nurse's work., In 'regard to 'the military wards where there had been a few cases 1 of venereal disease, the nurses had no duties to perform for these patients to which they could object. The more objectionable duties were performed by' the men themselves, the doctor, or the wardsman. Unfortunately, the Wardsman had now left,, and for some time after'his departure the nurses had to do more than they otherwise would have had to do in ordinary circumstances. In some surgical cases, work had ; been done by nurses instead of by o junior doctor, or a. wardsman under, the doctor's supervision, but in the opinion of Miss Maclean certain unpleasant duties, which had been done by nurses was not sanctioned or known of by either Medical Superintendent or Lady. Superintendent, and that, if nurses had objected, other arrangements could have been made. "At the same time," proceeded Miss Maclean in her report, "I think that the authorities should have ascertained how the various duties were performed, and.by whom. Nurses will do a great deal very repugnant to their feelings rather than fail in obeying an order for treatment of their patients. Proper provision should therefore be made so that no young girl should be called upon (especially during the early part of her training} to do anything which would tend to blunt her sense of modesty." After recommending a male attendant to_ each male ward, and suggesting duties for such attendants, Miss Maclean concluded: "I must express my appreciation of the loyalty displayed to their training school by the nurses I interviewed, and the spirit shown/by them of readiness-to do anything necessary for the' comfort and well-being of their patients, without considering their own feelings."

At yesterday's meeting of the hoard the report was received and adopted, the chairman expressing gratification that it was so satisfactory to the institution.