NURSING DIPLOMAS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 53, 31 August 1926, Page 10

NURSING DIPLOMAS

KEYSTONE OF THE ARCH

AN UNFORTUNATE POSITION

OTAGO UNIVERSITY'S CHANGE OF

POLICY.

The University School of Nursing should b-? the keystone of the entire arch. It will not only train leaders and develop and standardise procedures for all other schools; it will, by its permeating influence,

give inspiration and balance to tho movement as a whole, and gradu-

ally but steadily improve the effi-

ciency of every institution for tho training of nurses of whatovor type.

In "The Post" of Wednesday last there was published a letter drawing attention to an unfortunate position which, has arisen between the Otago University and the Government, which has resulted in a deadlock in regard to the establishment of post-graduate courses for nurses in the Medical School of the Otago University. Inquiries have been made into the difficulty. The facts are set out below, together with a brief statement of what is being done in Great Britain, America, and some other countries in the way of providing for higher nursing education. From this it will be seen that New Zealand is not keeping abreast of other countries in this respect, owing, it would appear, to a change in the policy of the Otago University, or perhaps to the impeeuniosity of that body. In 1923 the nurses of New Zealand, feeling that the time had arrived when provision should be made for the higher education of nurses, approached the Council of the Otago University with a request that a diploma in nursing should be instituted. This was agreed to on certain conditions, and a course of five years' tuition was laid down, beginning and ending at tho university, and with the three years' hospital training required by the Registration Act in between. There are now six nurses who ' have begun, the course. The fifth year of the course was set aside for the teaching of two more advanced subjects—(a) teaching and administration in schools of nursing, and (b) public health nursing. In order that the benefits of the course might be made immediately available for nurses already trained, the health Department sent two nurses abroad, one to England to study: (a) teaching and administration; and the other to Canada to take a course in (b) public health; and to act ultimately as instructors in these subjects in connection, with the diploma in nursing. These nurses havt now returned to New Zealand, fully qualified to take up the work of teaching in Dunedin, but there appear to be no funds available for their respective salaries. THE POINT AT ISSUE. The university authorities state that they are financially unable to pay the amount required annually for tho purpose. The. Health Department, on the other hand, maintains that in sending two nurses abroad, and in taking responsibility for the expense of their travelling, maintenance, and college fees—(and in the case of one already in its employ, of salary also) —it has done all that could reasonably be .expected of it. The Education Department has power to subsidise buildings and equipment only; and so the scheme seems destined to fail for want of the small amount required to pay these two salaries. OFFER OF TRAINED NURSES. The Dunedin branch of the Trained Nurses' Association feel so strongly that nurses should be allowed the privilege of improving their knowledge and of adding to their usefulness as administrators and teachers that they have undertaken to raise half the salary of the instructor for one year if the Government will subsidise tho amount & for £. They are confident that one year's experience will be sufficient to justify the importance of the position and that there will be no further difficulty.

There'are many trained nurses who would welcome the opportunity of taking a post-graduate course to fit them to become tutor-sisters —or instructors in nursing—in our hospitals in accordance with the custom prevailing in other countries. Only recently one of our leading hospitals found it necessary to send Home for an adequato trained woman for such a position. The appointment of suitable matrons will also be rendered less difficult when a selection may be made from those who have made a study of administration.

Very few nurses have the means to enable them to go abroad in search of further training, and there would be no necessity for them to do so if enough money could be raised to' pay the salaries of the two specially trained instructors, approximately £900 per annum. New Zealand nurses have been regarded as being second to none. Other countries are now instituting the higher education of nurses; and, in our isolated position, it is asserted, we are in danger of losing our reputation of being foremost in progress and in efficiency. Great interest is being shown in the subject throughout the hospitals of the Dominion, and it is urged that the course will be most popular when once it is established.

PROGRESS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

In order to show what is being clone in other countries with respect to higher nursing education, it may be mentioned that the new building of the College of Nursing, London, was opened by Her Majesty the Queen on 31st May. The building is the gift of Lord and Lady Cowdray; and the college has already taken its place as an educational centre of nursing, and has played an active and important part in improving conditions and raising standards for nurses. The British College of Nurses hes been endowed by a wealthy benefactor, who deairca • to remain anonymous, with a donation of more than £100,000.

In general terms, the college will be, firstly, an educational and examining body, to afford instruction to nurses in professional subjects, and various specialties; secondly, it will hold preliminary and post-graduate examinations for the diplomas of the college, so as to distinguish those who have been registered by the General Nursing Council as proficient for the higher appointments in hospitals and other institutions; or, for the valuable appointments of tho college itself.

The following, among other universities in the United States and Canada, have made provision for schools of graduate nurses: —M'Gfill .University (Montreal), Toronto University, Columbia College (New Yoi'k), Yale University, and Cleveland- University. In several countries in Europe similar provision hag been made.