Hospital Nurses’ Hours

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 13

Hospital Nurses’ Hours

Sir, —Now that so much interest is being taken in the question of the 40-hour week, I feel that attention should be drawn to the conditions obtaining in many of our hospitals, both public and private. I am not a nurse myself, but 1 have several friends in the nursing profession, and cannot but feel indignant at the way in which they are overworked. It is no uncommon. thing for a nurse to have to work from 10 to 12 hours a day. and this often in the artificially-heated atmosphere of the operating theatre or sterilising room. In addition to this the nurses are expected to attend lectures in preparation for the examinations they are required to pass. Thus a nurse who has been on night duty frequently has to interrupt her much-needed sleep during the day in order to dress and attend lectures. Not only does this overtax her strength and her nervous resistance, but it also inevitably impairs the quality of her work. She brings a tired mind and body to the study which is so important a part of her training. Many girls enter the nursing profession with high ideals of service, which, however, seldom survive the deadening effects of constant overwork and strain. Instead of being able to take a personal interest in their work, the nurses find themselves treated as little better than machines for the carrying out of the hospital routine. It is high time that the public took it into their hands to demand a proper investigation of the hospital system. I need scarcely point out the advantages whicli would accrue to the shortening of hours for the nurses. They would be able to take a keen interest in their work and a personal interest in the patients (and why should this latter be regarded as an unnecessary adjunct?). Instead of feeling completely exhausted at the end of the day’s work, and incapable of doing anything but rest, they would be able to seek relaxation in sport, sewing, reading and so on. We all know how indispensable proper relaxation is to the performance of our daily . routine. Why should nurses be denied this? Reform would, of course, involve an increase in the nursing staff. It might be argued that there are not sufficient applicants. Under the present conditions that may be so. Few girls, however enthusiastic they may be, can stand up to the fatigue without a complete sacrifice of all other interests, and even of their health and youth. But, if proper provision were made for the health and recreation of the nurses, those who now, though drawn toward the nursing profession, cannot face its crippling conditions would willingly and gladly apply for positions.

Nor should one ignore the effect that such a reform would have on the patients, whose restoration to health is, after all, the sole object for which hospitals aro maintained. Anyone who has had the care of sick people knows their recovery depends to great extent on the mental attitude of those attending them; alertness, sympathy and cheerfulness are invaluable factors in the alleviation of suffering. At present the nurses have little opportunity to display such qualities owing to the relentless strain which their work involves, That they retain these qualities at all under such trying conditions is a testimony to the unselfish nature of their aims. Is it fair that their unselfishness should be abused?. I appeal to all lovers of justice and fair play to see to it that the nurses are not forgotten when the question of shorter working hours is under discussion. —I am, etc., STUDENT.