ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 12

ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

Sir, —I also would like to endorse "ExNurse's" statements regarding the long hours the St. Helens nurses are expected t>o do on duty. During my recent training, it was the rule for nurses to do their four hours' door duty in their offduty time. A nurse was often obliged to do 16 hours' duty and 20 hours was not uncommon, no extra res'; being allowed for this. 1 have been called to the labour ward at 3 a.m., continued with ordinary ward work until 2 p.m., door duty till 6 p.m., then out on a district case, returning at midnight—2l hours continuous duty—and the next morning, commenced duty at tho usual hour, 6 a.m. Trained nurses from public hospitals invariably resented such conditions. Another Nurse.

gj rj —As an ex-nurse, St. Helens Hospital, I wish to point out that "door duty" is carried out once a week by the nurses on duty. Very rarely is a nurse put on that duty in her off hours. Every nurse who undertakes midwifery should understand that work cannot be regulated in any maternity hospital. I will admit at times the hours are long, but only on rare occasions, when one is on call for a case. Many times the nurses in turn are sent off duty when work permits. If a nurse asks /or leave, and she is not due for a casts, it is never refused. Re laundry, in my opinion the allowance is sufficient for any nurse in training. When lectures ai'e given by the medical officer and staff it is counted as the nurse's study hour. It is essential for every nurse to study one hour daily to become proficient in her work. J Fair Play.