HOSPITAL SATURDAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 121, 18 November 1943, Page 3

HOSPITAL SATURDAY

SCHOOL GIRLS ENTERTAINED

"Hospital Saturday" to at least 70 schoolgirls once a year means an afternoon full of interest, visiting various departments of the Wellington Hospital, having afternoon tea in the Nurses' Home, and being the honoured guests of people who wejir attractive uniforms and adorn their heads with flowing veils. The speaker at one such recently was Miss Kohn, a nurse who has contributed distinguished service; to her j profession. She summed up the like-! nesses and differences of periods ranging over fifty years. Each generation needed pioneers, and today, r.he said, rapid advance in science called for women of outstanding ability to enter the nursing service. As for differences, what more striking than the I long serge dress, stiff collar, tight belt and. apron of fifty years ago, compared with the simple, short neat Washing i uniform of the student nurses of today, shorter working day, and improved care of the nurse in training. THE KEY TO MANY COUNTRIES. That New Zealand has a hij;h place in other countries was stressed by Mist! Kohn in recalling the presentation of certificates by her medical superintendent on the day she graduated. "Here," he said, "is the key to open the door of many countries." So she had found it—England, and a number of countries in Europe having been opened to her by that key alone. Romance is not shut out of the nurses" life, stated Miss Kohn, and she told the story of a fellow nurse who decided to resign because of its lack of romance. Persuaded to remain, she finished her training, and was met again years afterwards, the happy mother of a quiverful. Romance had entered her life through using the golden key of her nursing certificate and opening the door of travel.. Judging by the enthusiasm of the visitors, the need for future Irainees to staff new hospitals will be* met in a year or two. Two" nurses contributed solos to the afternoon's entertainment, showing that the arts need not be neglected during the training period.