Important Milestone In Nursing History

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 208, 2 September 1943, Page 2

Important Milestone In Nursing History

FIRST N.l. CONFERENCE OF STUDENT NURSES Some 42 delegates from Student Nurses'. Associations all over the North Island assembled at the Tutorial Block at the Palmerston North Hospital yesterday for the first Dominion conference. Many matters of domestic and general interest to the nurses in training were discussed and decisions arrived at. Miss J. Paterson, president of the Palmerston North branch, presided and welcomed the delegates and official visitors. The splendid response to the invitations was most gratifying, she said, and an encouraging sign of what was hoped would be an increasing interest in the activities of their association by the nurses themselves. They were fortunate in having Miss L. M. Banks with them who was present in her capacity as Dominion president of the Registered Nurses’ Association, also Mrs. A. Donner, Dominion secretary. Miss R. Bridges, nursing supervisor of the Health Department, the Mayor, Mr. A. E. Hansford, Mr. J. A. Nash, chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital BGard, and Mr. J. H. North, superintendent of the Hospital. Through the representatives she thanked the R.N.A. on behalf of the student nurses for having made the conference possible and for unfailing interest and support at all times. The profession for which they trained and hoped to serve was an honourable one, Miss Paterson said. Every page ot its history over 2000 years to the present day was enriched by the selfless devotion of the women who gave head, heart and hand unstintingly. The occasion made nursing history, Miss Paterson continued, and was a big step towards self-government in its truest sense, of the nurse by the nurse for the nurse, for who should understand the nurse’s problems better than the nurse herself? Nothing worth having was achieved without effort. It was high time each and every nurse in training realised that without her interest and cooperation real self-government, that essential principle of democracy, could not be attained. A hundred years ago Florence Nightingale was fighting for the advancement ot nursing and had to contend with bitter opposition from outside the profession. “To-day, while we reap the benefits of her struggle, the greatest drawback to further progress lies in our own apathy,' Miss Paterson said. “Many problems can be solved by an active Student Nurses Association, and our watchword might well be the phrase so often on the lips ot Florence Nightingale, ‘lt must be done,’ the speaker concluded. Offering a welcome to the city to the student nurses, the Mayor congratulated those responsible for calling the conference. He trusted that next year the whole conference might be held in Pal- ! merston North. The nursing profession i should be the leading profession, Mr. ; Mansford continued, and he felt there I would be serious matters for their dejiberI ation. He had felt that salaries and con--1 ditions of nurses were not always worthy jof the duty they rendered to society. On ! the other hand, nurses also had a duty i that what they said and did might have 'an influence on their career and theii : association. He trusted there would be 1 time from their busy discussions to view j the beauty spots of the fifth city of the Dominion.

I Mr. Nash offered a welcome on behall of the Board and said in meeting in this 'centre the student nurses had the opportunity of coming in contact with the Dominion president of the R.N.A. The Board was well aware of Miss Banks qualifications and the members were proud she had been chosen for Dominion office. She was a great disciplinarian but gained the love of her nurses, and her one object was to see them go forward. Continuing, he said they were students of a great profession and had something to strive for. Boards generally realised that due consideration had not been given to nurses in the matter of salaries, but the nurses of the future would reap the benefit of those who had passed the meagre way. Discipline was necessary and only by being controlled themselves would they be able to control others. Mr. Nash hoped the deliberations would be to their advantage and that each one might be a “Florence Nightingale.” Mr. North added a welcome on behalt of hospital and said through Miss Banks he had become more aware of the activities and development of the Student Nurses’ Association. H 9 was confident the association would develop and create a healthy rivalry and true spirit. The speaker went on to say these were stirring times and great progress had been made in nursing in recent years. The war had seen remarkable changes in nursing technique and the place of the nurse would be further enhanced. The nurse must play her part in preventive measures and the education of the patient and the hospital provided an ideal opportunity for health education. It was Important to remember that technique could not replace the human side. Nursing held a unique position in public regard which must be maintained. Miss Bridges returned thanks for the invitation to be present and said she would be helped in her work by knowing the views of the student nurses. The Department was anxious to help and the voices of the R.N.A. and S.N.A. would be a guide and might help to gain their objective Addressing tho gathering as “fellow students,” Miss Banks said she could use the term because they were always students of nursing. This was a red letter day in tho nursing history of this country, when student nurses from training schools all over the North Island met m conference, she said. In opening tho conference, the speaker extended the good wishes of the R.N.A., particularly of the Dominion executive. She was pleased the first conference was in Palmerston North and to convey her own good wishes. Three weeks ago, the South Island student nurses met in Timaru, the delegates feeling they had got something worth while and constructive to take back to their own schools. She hoped tho discussion on present-day problems and future planß would stimulate interest and pride in their profession.

They must rememuer, tne speaker averred, nursing was not a trade nor an industry—it was a profession with a real place in the life of the community. The nursing profession to-day in New Zealand was representative of a larger number of women than any other profession. The New Zealand Nursing Service had earned a reputation for itself outside of this country and she felt sure it would be maintained by the nurses to-day.

Professional suuus hau oeen established in 1901, and it was interesting to look back and see what progress had been made since then, Miss Banks said. There was no knowing wnat the Association might do in the future if a spirit of unity and understanding existed in this profession. Miss Banks hoped the conference would result in a new interest in tho R.N.A. which had done much in the past, and the position they enjoyed In the nursing world to-day was duo for the most part to the Association. From- its beginning, it had worked in the interests of all nurses and was still doing so. The problems of the future would not pass them by and as nurses they would have to contribute their share to the new social order after the war. From the student nurses of to-day would come the leaders of nursing ot to-morrow. Each Association in each hospital should be a living force in the life of each group—it should bo a centre of preparation for what lay ahead. In conclusion, Miss BanHs said she wss pleased and proud to be present and would follow the discussion with interest.

Miss E. Graham (secretary of the Palmerston North branch) read telegrams of greeting from the Timaru branch and the South Canterbury branch of the R.N.A.

After the luncheon adjournment, the North Island representatives of the Dominion executive were elected as follows:—Misses N. Douglas (Hamilton hospital), E. McNicol (Auckland hospital), J. M. Paterson (Palmerston North hospital), M. Smith (Wellington hospital). The South Island representatives are Misses C. Abraham (Christchurch), C. A.

Collins (Dunedin), and M. Hardie (Westport). and the first meeting will be held this morning. The conference concluded late in the day with thanks to the Palm- | erston North branch by the Auckland delegates, Miss Paterson acknowledging I the remarks and conveying a comprehensive vote of thanks to the speakers, the Hospital Board and Miss Bridges, for | her valuable assistance throughout the day. Prior to the opening of conference, an j impressive service was held at St. Peter’s Church, Terrace End, conducted by Rev. F. S. Ramson. In a short address, Rev. Ramson stressed the privilege of service and reminded those present that it was not what they got cut of a vocation that counted, but what they put into it. Last evening the visitors were the guests of the Manawatu branch of the R.N.A. at a picture party, returning to the Nurses’ Home for supper after which there was an exchange of courtesies and general expressions of gratification for the inspiration of the conference and all the work put in by the officers and members of tho Palmerston North branch.

National Day of Prayer To-morrow, the National Day of Prayer, there will be services at All Saints’ and Saint Peter’s Churches at 7.30 and 10.30 in tho morning and at 7.30 p.rn. in the evening. At each of these services, there will be special intercessions.