APPEAL FOR NURSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 169, 17 June 1940, Page 9

APPEAL FOR NURSES.

EMERGENCY REGISTER. An urgent appeal ; for registered nurses throughout New Zealand to cooperate in the compilation of an emergency register has been issued by the Director of Nursing, Mi6S M. I. Lambie. „ All branches of the New Zealand Registered Nurses’ Association

throughout the Dominion have been requested to compile as soon as possible. a complete list of nurses in their respective districts. At the same time, all registered nurses, married or single, actively employed in their profession or otherwise, who have not already enlisted, have been urged to communicate immediately with the j secretary of their- local branch of the association and give particulars about themselves. Each 1 nurse is asked to give her registered name and full posral address ; to state whether she is married or single, and if married to give oorn her married and her maiden name, or i registered name; to give her quahfica-| tions; to state whether she is employed or not. whether she is prepared to do whole-time or part-time duty, and whether- she is prepared to transfer to another district if necessary. By registering in this manner nurses will militate the stupendous task of compiling fhis emergency register. It is stated that many nurses may lie required in the near future, and it is incumbent for all registered nurses to make their services available to 1 the Health Department, for whatever purposes they may be required. Inquiries at the headquarters of the nursing division of the Public Health Department elicited that no special emergency or sudden call had prompted this apneal. Steps had been taken at the outbreak of war to ascertain what nurses were available, but the list compiled then was not sufficiently up-to-date or comprehensive, and it was now being endeavoured to make a complete list. There are between 7000 and 8000 registered nurses in the Dominion. Of these, about 3300 are on the active list, ! 1500 not at present taking part in their profession, 1500 midwives and 1600 maternity nurses. The class whose activities are most difficult to trace, and the class upon which any emergency call is mostly likely to he made, is that of the nurses not at present active, having married, retired, or taken on some other occupation. As the other classes are mostly already doing active nursing work, any call upon their members for war work will create vacancies which will have to be filled again. The women who possess the necessary qualifications, and who are free to devote them to the war service, even if it is only by filling a vacancy and so releasing another liurse for service, are those whom it is sought to contact. After their marriage or retirement from nufsing, it is often difficult for the authorities to keen contact with them, and to know precisely who are available in case of any national emergency. The present appeal is an endeavour to keep the nursing service fully prej pared for whatever call may be made upon it at any time. Registered nurses are urged to write | to their local secretary, or to the Doi minion secretary, New Zealand Registered Nurses’ Association, Colonial Mutual Buildings, Wellington.