THE TRAINING OF NURSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19780, 29 October 1927, Page 12

THE TRAINING OF NURSES.

POST-GRADUATE SCHEME. NEW COURSE AT WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Friday. As a result of a meeting of representatives of the Health Department and the Wellington Hospital Board an agreement has been practically reached under which all facilities are to bo given by the board for the post graduate training of nurses at the Wellington Hospital, the course to commence in March. It is intended that the course shall last six months and it has been planned to offer tuition to nurses wishing to specialise as teachers in schools of nursing and in public health nursing. Most of the practical work will be carried out at the Wellington Hospital, its central position making it convenient for nurses to come from other parts of the Dominion for higher training. The department anticipates that boards will grant scholarships to nurses to assist them to take additional training. NECESSITY FOR THE COURSE. LACK OF TUTOR-SISTERS. A post graduate course for nurses has been under discussion for many months. It was strongly advocated by the hist hospital boards' conference, the New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association and the conference of hospital matrons. At the request of Otago University, the Health Department sent two nurses for special training abroad in order that they might qualify as tutors, but the university declined to pay their salaries, and the proposal lapsed. Auckland Uni versity College was approached and as late as October 18 it was agreed that representatives of the college council and the Auckland Hospital Board should confer with the Director General of Hos pitals, Dr. T H A. Valintine. on the subject. However, the Health Depart ment has now made an arrangement with the Wellington Hospital Board and Victoria University College for a course of training open to nurses from all parts of the Dominion. "A course in Wellington should hp quite satisfactory for the present so far as Auckland is concerned," said Mr W Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hos pita] Board, vesterdav "There is a rea' need for nurses with advanced training such as will fit them to become tutor sisters in the larger hospitals. Women with such qualifications are not avail able in New Zealand to-day. "The Auckland board was compelled to obtain its present tutor-sister from England and the Otago hoard, after ad vertising for one, received no applica tions. It is to be expected that hospital matrons will be recruited to some extent in future from nurses who have taken the advanced courae." In reply to a question, Mr. Wallace said the Auckland board had not offered to grant scholarships to nurses taking the coursa.