MEDALS FOR NURSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 90, 15 March 1941, Page 9

MEDALS FOR NURSES.

PRESENTATION AT HOSPITAL. At the Palmerston North Hospital nurses' home, yesterday afternoon, for the first time the medals gained tor State registration after completing tliree years and three months' training were publicly prcseiit-ed to the successuil nurses. Miss L. M. Banks, matron, welcomed parents and friends, also Mr J. A. Nash, chairman of the Hospital Board, and Mrs M. -Aitchiso.ii, board member, Mr J. H. North, medical superintendent, and Mrs North. A short entertainment was given, those contributing being Nurses i-Tatt (pianoforte solos), Duggan (vocal solos), Crowe (humorous sketches) and Newlands (elocutionary items).

Mies Banks spoke of the self-sacri-ficing way in which the nurses had worked and expressed her gratification that all had passed. She also mentioned a prize to be donated by the Manawatu branch of the Registered Nurses' Association each six months, a book to the value of £1 Is to the final year student considered the best bedside nurse.

Mr Nash congratulated the successful nurses and eulogised the good work of Mr North and Miss Banks. All the nurses had passed, Nur6e E. Chalmers gaining honours in nursing technique. Mies Banks pinned on the registration medals, the recipients being: Nurses W. Skinner, E. Chalmers, V. Dixon, C. Spear, M. Crabbe, E. Laing, M. O'Reilly, J. Stewart, M. Jacques, D. Harper, C. Brown, F. Colman. Nurses who had completed four years were entitled to receive from the board their hospital certificate, Mr Nash continued, and there were 14 to gain this distinction. Mrs Aitchison handed certificates and offered congratulations to the following:—Nurses M. A. Day, L. M. Hunter, M. M. Leitch, E. J. Laing, R. J. Goodrick, M. J. O'Reilly, H. J. Edmundsen, D. A. Sloman, C. B. Moir, C. Scrimgeour, J. F. Stewart, P. I. Monk, M. M. Crabbe Nurse G. Meuli, who was absent, also gained a certificate. To stimulate interest in practical nursing among nurses in training, the nursing education committee of the Registered Nurses' Association had established an essay competition, Mr Nasli said. The association had given a trophy in the form of a silver Nightingale lamp, which was held by the nursing school winning the competition. Each hospital entering its best essay received a book prize, and this book had been won this year by Nurse Mason, of Palmtiston North, who was congratulated by Mr Nash on receiving her book. Afternoon tea was served under the direction of Sister Francis, assisted by Nurses Wills, Newlands, McFadden and Lean.