MOTHERCRAFT

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 267, 7 August 1929, Page 5

MOTHERCRAFT

INTENSIVE TRAINING COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT BY s MINISTER b >- > ■ if ® Arrangements have been made for all registered midwives and maternity 1 nurses to attend an intensive; course of ; training at the Karitane-Harris Hospital, e Dunedin, according to an announcement s made in a circular issued by the Minister • of Health (Hon. A. J. Stallworthy). “An unduly high rate of maternal mor--3 tality, and of infantile mortality in the 3 first few weeks of life, is recognised as 3 one of the saddest and gravest reflections ! on modern civilisation,” states the ynn- - ister. “I am informed that probably two- : thirds of such deaths could be prevented, both here and at Home, in thei course ot > a comparatively short time, if suitanie ; and adequate provision were made tor the safeguarding of mother and child, and doing the besjt for them throughout the pregnancy and at and soon after childbirth. A ; few progressive European countries, such as Denmark and Holland, have set the example; and their rates of maternal mortality and deaths of babies in the first few weeks nrc now only about half our average New . Zealand rates. A Necessary Measure. “It appears to me that, in connection with the nursing profession, the most unquestionably necessary measure needed in the Dominion at the present time is to afford to all midwives and maternity nurses now on the New Zealand register opportunities and facilities for attending a short, simple, practical course of authoritative, up-to-date instruction and training in relation to motherhood and mothercraft —something comparable _to what is known in the medical profession as a ‘post-graduate’ or ‘refresher’ course. The purpose of such a course would be to bring all midwives and ■ maternity nurses as far as possible up to date in the most essential requirements for the safeguarding of mother and child all through the momentous course of pregnancy, and at and soon’after childbirth. Course of Training. , “My special purpose in writing this circular as Minister of Health is to commend to you a short course of intensive training on the above lines which is to be established at an early date at the Karitane-Harris Hospital, Dunedin. There I am satisfied that no pains will be spared to give those who attend a practical, commonsense, .attractive course of instruction and training which will suffice to bring those who attend abreast of the main requirements. The course Will, not be beyond the scope and clear understanding of those who have been practice, and would therefore tend to be least familiar with modern methods. There will be no exacting requirements in the way of arithmetical calculations or the writing of examination papers. While proficiency in such matters is more or less necessary in the case of nurses serving their time in general or maternity hospitals, with a view to complete qualification and certification as ‘general’ or ‘materriity’ nurses, nothing of the kind will be attempted or expected in the, short course in question. I am assured by tho.se directly responsible for the undertaking. including Sir Truby King and Miss Pattrick (the director of Plunket nursing, with whom I had two interviews immediately before she left for Home) that none'of the nurses who attend the Dunedin course will.be asked or expected to'pass any form of written examination, unless any of them expressly wish to do so for their own personal satisfaction. Further, there will be no competitive examinations; but a desirable certificate of having attended the course will be given to each nurse when leaving. The intention is to give a simple but sufficient ‘post-graduate’ or ‘refresher’ course, for I the practical purpose of enabling nurses • entrusted with the care of mother and child to carry out their duties not only more easily but also with:greater confidence and satisfaction to themselves and with greater safety and advantage to a mother and child. “Such is their confidence in the success of the course that Sir Truby King and Miss Pattrick say they will be surprised and disappointed if the nurse who attends should prove afterwards unable to do? the best reasonably possible for the baby, whether the birth takes place in a maternity hospital, tn a city slum, in a healthy suburb, or in a remote backblock or othe£ outpost beyond the reach of doctors. Such, I am assured, are the aims, purposes, and prospects of the course; and I have much pleasure in advising all registered midwives and maternity nurses to apply to attend as soon as they can see their way to do so. It is of all things most desirable at the present time to establish harmony, unity, and consistency of education, training, advice, and practice in mothercraft throughout New Zealand, for the safeguarding and protection of mother and child; and lam satisfied, as Minister of the Department, that a great deal in this direction can be done by yourselves.”