WAGES AND HOURS OF NURSES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 129, 24 February 1939, Page 10

WAGES AND HOURS OF NURSES

Need For Improvement Urged HOSPITAL BOARD’S OPINION Unfavourable Reply From Department The need to improve wages and working conditions of nurses was discussed by the Wellington Hospital Board last night. Advice was received that the Health Department was not agreeable to nurses’ salaries being increased at present, because of the possibility of an award being issued; also that the suggestion that nurses in training should be allowed to live out in their own homes was not viewed with favour. After members had stressed the difficulty of obtaining nurses tinder present conditions, it was decided to ask the department to reconsider its decision. Air. A. AV. Croskery said that the hospital was understaffed, and there was no accommodation for extra nurses. It had been suggested that tlie board might obtain pupil nurses who could live in their own homes. The proposed salary increase was not large. Nurses at present were paid £45 a year, and it had been suggested that they should receive £55, with a living-out allowance of £52. Shortage of Nurses. Every hospital board in New Zealand was at its wits’ end to know how to meet, tlie shortage of nurses, said Mr. Croskery. Until .tlie profession was made .somewhere as attractive as other employment, sufficient young women would not be obtained. Apart from wages, the young woman of today was not prepared to be cooped up in a home —and she knew fairly well bow to look after herself. It had been suggested that nurses living out might go on duty in tin unlit state tor work, but that was a matter for the matron mid the superintendent. The suggestion that it was necessary to wait for the award was laughable, because the award was not likely to be attractive enough to bring young women into the profession. Then again, the nurses’ hours were too long. The matron was concerned about it and wished to make a reduction aS soon as possible. “In face of all these facts, as soon as we make a suggestion with merit we are told that we should wait for an award,” said Air. Croskery. “I think tlie board should take further action.” Air. A. H. Carman said tint: the board had made its recommendation on the advice of the medical .staff and after careful consideration. It bad already been decided to introduce the 40-hour week as soon as possible. He agreed that further action should be taken. “50 to 60 Hours a Week.” “Some of our young probationers are working 50 to 60 hours a week,” said Mr. J. Purvis. “One girl some time ago worked five weeks without a day off. After working eight or nine hours nurses are expected to attend lectures —but they are not able to study; they just go to sleep.”

Mr. Purvis urged that male aides should be engaged to relieve the nurses of some of the .heavy work. He said he had seen three nurses wrestling with a male patient, and a porter to whom they had appealed for help had refused to give it. . Did the nurses get enough time for meals? asked Mr. G. Petherick. He had heard it said that they did not. The hospital existed to-cure, not create, illness. “We are all anxious to improve nurses’ wages and conditions.” said the chairman, Mr. J. Glover, "but some of the statements made here tonight are not going to help to bring nurses to the hospital.” Mr. Croskery: We might as well tell the truth! • „ Miss A. G. Kane said that, they all wished to make the conditions as pleasant. as possible, but it should not be forgotten that the nurses were receiving training that would lit them for lucrative positions later. Conditions today were infinitely better than 10 years ago, when there were not half as many complaints.