WORK FOR NURSES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 29, 3 August 1933, Page 15

WORK FOR NURSES

HEALTH EDUCATION

; There was an interested audience of nurses in tho lecture room at the General Hospital yesterday afternoon when Miss Niv'e'n, World Secretary- of; the Y.W.C.A.,.gave an address on "Nursing as related to Y.W.C.A. work and health education." Miss! Niven, who was aceompaniecl by. Miss ' Jean Stevenson and Miss Bridgman, was met by Miss Cookson, lady superintendent. Miss Niven said she felt singularly at home with her audience, as she had had a great deal to do' with nurses in various parts of tho world. Her first serious organisation work had been the formation of a social and study club for nurses in New York, which small beginning had into the present nurses' section of the Y.W.C.A. in America, which now had its own beautiful private buildings. In describing her experience of hospitals in Italy, Miss Niven said that until recently no Italian girl who cared much for her reputation entered the nursing profession except under one of the religious orders. Thanks to Queen Eleanor, however, a school for nurses had been opened at a great new hospital, and students were greatly in demand as soon as their training was completed. In Florence, until the war, hospital conditions were shockingly bad, but of later years new buildings had been erected and now conditions were as good as in most Latin countries—"who do not, however, have the standards to which you are accustomed," said Miss Niven. In stressing the need for health education and tlio opportunities for nurses in various parts of the world, Miss Niven said it was not the object of the Y.W.C.A. to take part in any actual healing work, although it had been done- on few occasions, but the whole preventive side—health education —had an important place in the association's programme. Health instruction through games was one method which had been followed with success in Czechoslovakia, and in China, where the association had, among other things, launched a campaign against footbinding and long hair. Educated Chinese women who had been trained to be inspirers and examples of health to others, and had been taught to play health-giving games, had been snapped up immediately by tho Government for missions and schools. Miss Niven described the deplorable conditions iv silk factories and the work of the association in this connection. "The future seems such a fair one for you," she concluded. "I wonder if you realise how fortunate you are. There is nothing like ' going away from home to givo one appreciation of what one has at homo." Miss Cookson, in thanking - Miss Nivon, said that the address made one realise the necessity for nurses to get more closely in touch with the bigger movements for women.-

I Tho bridge ■ party ' in, .aid. of Scots College, -which was to h& held at Mrs. A. Longmore's residence, Brougham Street> next Monday' evening, has increased so much in size that it will now be held at tho old Ministerial residence, 260 Tinakori Eoad, and players are asked to bring their table covers, scorers, and cards. ~

Weddingsl Simplicity and charm in arrangement. The present-day fashion for brides' and bridesmaids' bouquets by Miss" Murray, 36 Willis Street. Tel. '10-541.—Ad vt. ' " ' .