TRAINING OF NURSES

Evening Star, Issue 19474, 4 February 1927, Page 6

TRAINING OF NURSES

HIGHER STANDARD WANTED DEPUTATION TO HEALTH MINISTER A deputation from the Trained Nurses’ Association waited on the Hon. J. A. Young (Minister of Health) this morning, asking that something be done to ensure a higher education for nurses whose duty it would be to train the probationers in more branches of the work than “bedside nursing,” to which their training was at present limited. , Tlja. Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.) said that certain reforms were suggested. For instance, the only training that probationers now received was in bedside nursing, and it was felt that nurses should have a higher education than that. There should be a chair at the University, where nurses could get that higher training, and they wy.ted a financial scheme provided whereby the University would be able to give it, for the nurses did not have the money to do so. The idea was that nurse’s should be trained not only in bedside, but nlso.in field work, involving, for instance, a knowledge of preventive measures against disease. They knew that the Health Department semt two nurses away to get that special knowledge, but now that they were returned there were no funds to keep them going, and, anyway, two nurses could not do nil that required to be done. The Otago branch of British. Medical Association was heartily in support of the request for the immediate institution of post-graduate courses for nurses. Mr J. M. Dickson, M.P., said that in the past the nurses had not received the appreciation and gratitude due to them. Miss Young (president of the Trained Nurses’ Association) said that the four larger hospitals had appointed tutor sisters. Auckland had had to appoint a. London lady for this position at a. salary of £2OO a. year (high payment for a nurse), bemuse with the training the New Zealand nurses were getting none of them felt themselves properly equipped for such a position. "We really think,” said the speaker. “ that it is unfair that these positions must go to people from outside the dominion merely because our nurses, though nuite fitted for the work, do not feel that they have adequate training.” “The probationer nurses give splendid service, hut their reward is a very poor one.” said Miss Tennent, matron of the Dunedin Hospital. _ “ People say: 1 Yes, but they are receiving their training.’ But wo are not giving them training in fair return for what they do. We want university courses _to train tutors, who will give the girls the training they deserve for the work they do. In the smaller hospitals the need is very, very great.” The Hmi. Mark Cohen supported what had been said. He apologised for tho absence of Sir Charles Stathnm and Dr Batchelor (local representative of the 8.M.A.).

The Minister said he was very sympathetic townjd the welfare_ of the nurses. He mentioned that Miss Moore and Miss Lambie had boon sent away by the department to get a proper training. Returning, they were available to the University, which was expected to fake these ladies on to its staff: hut the University eonld not pay the salaries, and the Health Department had no provision for such expense. Tho department had. however, retained Miss Moore in its own service, and she was doing valuable work. Regarding the University proposal, it must be understood that it was not customary to accent students who bad not matriculated, and that was a difficulty that might cause these proposals to he not a benefit, but quite another thing, to the profession. Miss Tonnenf, said all they asked for was a Few specially well-ennipped women who would net as teachers.' Mr Young sm’d there would not ho a very large field in New Zealand for this education. The hospitals should have tutor sisters all right, and he had tried to bring that about; but (here bad been an impasse with the Medical Refine! authorities here in Dunedin. Still; he eonld sav that what I hey wanted would come about probe Mr in (lie near future, but perhaps not in Dunedin.

Tho deputnlion expressed itself ns '■‘liisfied with this ronlv. and expressed its thanks to the Minister.