NURSING PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 11, 7 October 1927, Page 3

NURSING PROBLEMS

PAPERS READ AT CONFERENCE REORGANISATION PROPOSAL An open meeting in connection with the Trained Nurses’ Conference was held last night, at the Nurses’ Club, when He- Excellency La<jv Alice Fergusson, patroness of tho association, was present. Her Excellency, who was attended by Commander Boyle, A.D.C., was received by the- (Miss Pengelly). and the secretary (Miss Inglis), and presented with a hovrivot. A number of papers, prepared by various members of the association, were read. Miss Benjamin (Wanganui), read a paper written by her sister, lor whom she said a thorough knowledge of nursing was only one of many qualifications reciuired. She required all qualifications necessary for a good head of a household, for everything in the ward from door to ceiling was the sister’s business. Tho writer considered that few sisters attached enough imjxirtancc to the kindly welcome of patients. Miss Bucklev, mica king on the same subject, stressed the need for the higher training of sisters, saying hospital boards would lx> well advised to give leave of absence to enable sisters to obtain this. With the advance of medicine extra responsibility devolved on nurses, and the ward sister must take part in their training. Also, she must be prepared to carry out urgent treatment prior to tho arrival of the doctor. Miss Bagley (Auckland) spoke of the "Spirit of Nursing,” without which no nurse could bo successful. If only interested in the technical side she would fail for she must consider the human side in the patient. The first need was a desire to relievo suffering of mind and body. This spirit must be fostered and brought out in the (raining schools. Mis slnglis also spoke on this subject and considered that the spirit of nursing was as alive to-day as it ever liad been. The idealist would go further than tho merely practical. Miss Young (Dunedin) read a paper on tho giving of testimonials, most _ot which she said were worthless. A list of the duties required mid how they had been carried out should bo given. Prophecies wcro useless. Miss Moore gave a brief summary of tho meetings of the International Council of Nurses, recently held in Genova. As Switzerland was not affiliated, there had been no co-qreration from the Swiss nurses as a body. No less than 34

countries had been represented by over 700 delegates. A scheme for an International Memorial to Florence Nightingale'had been discussed. Now Zealand now fulfilled tho requirements of the International Council iu that its association was self governed by nurses. The next conference was to l>o in Montreal iu 1929. . ~ Mis Lasmbie spoke ou tho proposed -reorganisation of the working of the association. tJhe bad observed iu Canada that tho profession was divided into nursing education, private ourstag, and public health. To the first belonged matrons and sisters in hospitals and their problems were peculiar to themselves, while these did not e®ter into tho problems ol private hospitals and nurses. The organisation ot public health nurses was fairly new in New Zealand, and many private societies were engaged in it, so that it was possible iu Wellington for oue home to be visited by different organisations. AU international meetings were divided into these sectional groups, and the Royal British Nurses’ Association bad rci'ently adopted this plan. She felt suro it would bo of great benefit in New Zealand, and would prevent the splitting of the association into different bodies. After tho papers and speeches, supper was handed round, and Her Excellency was introduced to the visitors.