SHORTAGE OF NURSES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 205, 24 May 1919, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF NURSES

THE POSITION AT DUNEDIN. The shortage of nurses is being felt at the Dunedin Hospital, states the Dunedin correspondent of the Christcluirch "Press." Miss Mvles, the matron, interviewed, stated: Fully staffed, we cught to have 18 sisters, but we have only nine. Now count up tho staff: Nine sisters, nine certificated nurses in their fourth year, -16 probationers, three military sisters, and nine V.A.D.'s. That makes a total of 7G 011 duty-now. The number varies from day to day, If all our departments wore full, we should require a staff of 111. or 35 more than there are 011 duty to-day, but you may deduct from that, 011 account of certain wards not being full, aiul ,others held in reserve, and put down the present shortage as 20. The matron added that several reasons for the scarcity of nurses lay on the surface. To tlioso which were known, sho could , add two or threo which her experience lind revealed. I'lio higher salaries paid to military sisters were threatening to become a real difficulty. Since the influenza. scare many relatives of nurses had talked much about tho personal risks, and their nervousness had had some effect. Another factor was that numbers of tho nurses had soldiers, friends, or relatives, coming homo, and, having had long spells of duty that left them tired, they deem it a fair thing to take a long holiday from the hospital, and do the comparatively light work ot nursing returned men in a I'"™"' home. Tho medical superintendent (Dr. falconer), stating the caso from, his point, of view, said: Sisters and nurses have been leaving, and we have not enough coming 011 to take their place. It is important to note that senior nurses are leaving, instead of proceeding to tho rank of acting-sisters. ■ We loaned a I our sisters for war work, 13 of tMni, and only ono has-so far returned. Otherdifficulties have been mentioned by Miss Mvles. I would emphasise one of those: It is that the military sisters get higher salaries. It is a pity that there should be anything I'ke competition for Mmce of this nature. To meet this difficulty the board has increased tho ealaries, but not up to the un itary_ rates. Let 1110 assure you that tho disadvantages which wo labour under are not confined to tho Dunedin Hospital; there is a least one other nublic institution 111 Dun edin that wanti more nursing tan e than is offering, and no doubt tnc influences that are in operation heiel are giving worry to the good people of other towns.