NURSING AS WAR EFFORT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 10 January 1944, Page 3

NURSING AS WAR EFFORT

CAREER WITH A FUTURE MISAPPREHENSIONS REMOVED HOSPITAL MATRON INTERVIEWED "We hear and read of the hard work and poor pay of nurses but are all the statement.*' made true to tact.'’ Certainly the nurse works while on duty, but there is a great satisfaction in the realisation that .he is adding to the comfort, and assisting in the cure of 6ick and suffering people. In addition 1 her work is interesting and full of variety, and is serving a very useful | purpose to herself in providing the experience necessary. Nursing certainly offers a professional career of very 1 satisfying service.” This is the con- | sidered opinion of the Matron of the 1 Wairau Hospital, Miss M. Tomlinson, land was offered during an interview ; with the ‘ Express” on the question of ! essential work and service. A PERMANENT CAREER Discussing the various avenues of es- : sential employment now open to those anxious to “pull their weight” in the , national and community effort, Miss 1 Tomlinson pointed out that many of these industries provided important j work only for the present. They were ; lacking in a permanent career for later on. That was why, she said, she wished to say a word for nursing, which offered a means of helping now, when the need for such assistance was great, and also held out definite prospects of advancement for the future. As far as hard work and poor pay were concerned, the hours worked were eight a day., including meal-times. At present the salaries of pupil nurses were £65 for the first year and £75 for the second, rising to £B6 for the.third I year. In the fourth year, and until 1 qualified, the rate of pay was £92. In ! addition, of course, board and uniforms | were provided. Living conditions were ! good, each nurse having a separate { bedroom, with the use of comfortable | sitting-rooms, and there was a generous supply of hot ■“water available at all times. Provision was also made for recreation, and there was the advantage of happy comradeship—of a community possessed of similar aims and interests. SCOPE MORE VARIED After registration, Miss Tomlinson explained, the scope of the work became more varied, and there was. the possibility of jobs being secured, if desired, which entailed travel. Whpn a nurse' became registered the channels of employment opened to her included general hospital work in positions of responsibility, district health nursing, infant welfare and mothercraft. obstetric nursing, which could be taken up after a further special training, industrial nursing in factories, and the New Zealand Army Nursing Service in New Zealand or overseas. The Matron gave the following details of the salaries drawn by registered nurses:—Staff nurses in hospital, £135 to £145; sisters in hospital, £156 to £200; tutor sisters, £2OO to £220; assistant-matrons, £220 to £330; matrons. £250 to £SOO. Board and uniforms were provided in each case.