Is Whangarei Nursing Staff Lopsided?

Northern Advocate, 13 May 1940, Page 8

Is Whangarei Nursing Staff Lopsided?

That the nursing staff might be lopsided—there being too many junior trainees in proportion to trained nurses —was a doubt expressed by several members of the Whangarei Hospital Board today. On the motion of Mr A. Clarke, a committee was appointed to inquire h'tc the whole question of nursing staff at the hospital Such an investigation, Mr Clarke said, was called for in fairness to the matron, staff and public. He originally named as his committee, the chairman (Mr Mac Kay), Mr W. Jones and Miss A. Cookson. Upon Mr Jones declining to act, Mr Younger was appointed. Wards Very Busy _ Earlier, Matron E. Swayne had reccmemnded appointment of Misses C. Fricker and S. Fletcher, trained at Masterton Hospital, as staff nurses, to commence duties on July 1. Both the men’s and women’s surgical wards were kept very busy and the ward sisters really required the help of trained staffs, the Matron reported. Nurses who had completed their general training at Whangarei were proceeding to the maternity annexe to train in that branch of the work.

“It is possible that our staff has become unbalanced with too many untrained girls and not enough fully trained nurses,” remarked Mr Mac Kay.

Above Average “We carry a very large staff, considering the number of patients, the pomntage of nurses to parents comparing unfavourably with that of other hospitals.

Miss A. Cookson: Matron should have trained nurses at her disposal when ward sisters are off duty. “To get efficiency it is necessary to have charge nurses available at times of emergency.” Mr Mac Kay: Now we have an up-to-date hospital, we should be able to do with the same ratio of nurses to patients ruling in other similar institutions.

Miss Cookson suggested that the ratio might be upset by the use of probationer nurses instead of increased domestic staff at Whangarei. For efficient service, the proportion of trained nurses should be higher here.

At the request of members the matron was called in to give her views.

Untrained Bo Work

Ward work was becoming so heavy, and the hospital was becoming so busy that too much responsibility was being thrown upon the ward sisters, Miss Swayne said. On operation mornings, the ward sisters spent the greater part of the time in the operating theatre, and were also frequently on duty in the X-ray room. This threw the care of the patients upon untrained staff, which was not desirable. Previously there had been periods of less activity, but during the last six months, work had been maintained at tremendous pressure. She was particularly keen that , the recommendations should go through, otherwise the new matron would arrive feeling that she had been left with a staff of insufficient size. Ferhaps the staff was lopsided, with too many juniors in proportion to seniors. Mr Mac Kay: “Our nursing staff is larger than the department requires. The Matron expressed surprise at this and failed to see how the work could be carried out with fewer nurses. Member Disturbed - That he was not satisfied with the explanation given and disturbed by the remarks made by the chairman was stated by Mr Jones. If the staff was unbalanced he did not. see that the board was justified in engaging two more trained nurses. There must have been a lack of organisation somewhere .

Prior to the reconstruction of the hospital, the nursing staff had been between 47 and 48, said the secretary (Mr J. H. Marwick).' Since then an extra ward with 18 beds had been added, and the staff increased to 66. Only one or two extra seniors had been engaged, but the training claps taken on recently was exceptionally large. Possible Explanation Some schools did not include preliminary probationers on trial as nursing staff members, whereas this was done at Whangarei, said Miss Cookson. This might explain the disproportion spoken of. From her own experience she knew that hospital efficiency could not be obtained without a trained staff. The Matron’s recommendation was adopted, Mr Jones recording his vote against; and Mr Clarke then put forward his proposition which met with unanimous support.

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