NURSING AIDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 72, 22 September 1939, Page 12

NURSING AIDS

TRAINING SCHEME

APPROVAL OF THE HOUSE

The proposal to inaugurate a system of training for nursing aids as outlined in the Nurses and Midwives Registration Bill was received with approval by the House of Representatives last night, when the measure was brought forward for its second reading. In explaining the provisions of the Bill, the Minister'of Health (the Hon. P. Fraser) said that the Bill would enable girls still too young to enter the nursing profession, and those who did not desire full training, an opportunity of obtaining sufficient training in nursing and domestic duties in public hospitals, so that they would be able, while not regular nurses, to attend to many cases of sickness, and to carry out domestic - duties in the homes. It was considered that the training would be a considerable contribution towards the,, much-needed j help required in many homes, parti- j cularly in the country districts, during! times of sickness. Nursing aids would be accepted for training before the age of 19, and after serving two years they could enter the nursing profession if they cared to. Those two years would count as one year towards the ! training period of three years' and | three months. Mr. J. Hargest (National, Awarua): Who is responsible .for granting the licences? The Minister: The Nurses and Midwives Registration Board. j Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford) welcomed the Bill. The scheme would have a very wide usefulness, he said, particularly in the country districts. The nursing aids, moreover, would have a status and standing in the community. Other Opposition members spoke in favour of the Bill. The Minister agreed with Mr. Hargest that the standard of nursing in New Zealand: was very high and assured him that there was nothing in the Bill that was likely to lower that standard. The Bill wasput through the remaining stages* and 1 passed" without- amendment, j