FEWER GIRLS GOING IN FOR NURSING

Northern Advocate, 26 January 1938, Page 3

FEWER GIRLS GOING IN FOR NURSING

f Special To “Northern Advocate*] AUCKLAND, This Day.

Nursing problems are proving a burden to Auckland Hospital Board members. At yesterday’s meeting the house committee reported a definite decrease in applicants for the nursing profession, and a reduction in the number of nurses employed, owing to an unforeseen number of resignations. In its report the house committee recommended that the Government should be asked to establish a nurses’ preliminary training school. This would fill the gap between the time of leaving school and starting hospital training.

Number of Resignations.

At the beginning of 1937 there were 350 nurses at the hospital and in November it was 391, sufficient for the requirements of a slight reduction in hours. Of late, however, there had been a number of resignations and the staff was reduced to 380. Trained nurses and pupil nurses joining the staff in January would bring the number up again. Mr W. G. Mulholland said that nurses should receive a week’s leave at the end of the first six months’ service. “These nurses work all holidays and get no time for it,” he said.

“I am assured that many of the nurses who left our service would still.be here if they could get a break at the half year. Many of them break down under the strain of work, especially in the first six months, but with a holiday they would return fresh and well.”

Great Strain on Young Girls.

If the young ladies of Auckland understood the board was offering better conditions, there would possibly be more applicants for positions, he said. Many of them were deterred by the fact that they had to work all holidays. The Rev. W. C. Wood, chairman, said he realised the great strain on a young girl going in for hospital work. He thought it might be possible to give one week’s holiday at the end of the first six months.

This matter is being referred back to the house committee.