N.Z. TRAINED NURSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20375, 2 October 1929, Page 17

N.Z. TRAINED NURSES.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The annual conference of tho Now Zealand Trained Nurses' Association opened at tho Nurses' Club yesterday afternoon with a meeting of tho central council. The president, Mrs. Tracey Inglis, was in tho chair, and there were also present the following dolegates:—Miss Inglis, hon. secretary; Mrs. Kedel, Miss Bagley, Miss Martyn, Miss Macfarlane, representing Auckland; Miss McKenny, Miss Boyce, Miss Livingstone, Wanganui; Miss Hoiford and Miss Driver, Otago; Miss Kolin, Miss M. Bagloy, Miss Orsenan and Miss Burton, Wellington; Miss Muir and Miss Knight, Canterbury; Miss Gill, Taranaki; Miss Goldsmith, Hawke's Bay; vMiss North, Gisborno; Miss Keddie, Southland; Miss Mooro and Miss Lambio, Nelson.

In oponing tho conference, tho president, Mrs. Tracey Inglis, said that when looking back upon their records she found that the central council was formed in 1909, and sho considered that in that time it has fulfilled the objects for which it was formed. These aims, as laid down at tho Second Internationa] Conference, held in tho same year that tho council was formed, and adopted by the latter body, woro tho extension of tho influence of nursing so that under a comprohensivo curriculum defined by State authority it would become of definite value to tho community. It was not sufficient that a nurse should be the instrument of relief of suffering, but sho must also bo tho harbinger of its prevention. Inspired by a fine militant spirit sho must make determined war upon tho fundamental wrongs that conduced to low vitality and physical deterioration. Gratitude was expressed to the New Zealand Government for acceding to tho request to have an official delegate to represent New Zealand at the International Conference of Nurses held in July at Montreal. Miss Bicknell had been chosen and tho association had been very fortunate in being represented by her and by Miss McKenny. 'Miss Bicknell, director of nursing services, made a brief speech dealing with oonio of che businass that came before the International Conference at Montreal. She stressed tho importance of a New Zealand delegate to any future meeting of the J.C.N. being appointed president for the

time being, as only then was she entitled to <i seat on the board of directors. Jho Education Committee, of which she was a member, had a particularly strenuous time. Its main duty was to try and establish a minimum basis on which to draw up an international curriculum of training. With so many countries of varying sizes and conditions this was no easy matter, and many hours were spent in trying to work out some schemes adaptable to all. "Another task set this committee," said Miss Bicknell, "was that of defining the term 'trained nurse,' as used in the constitution of the I.C.N. The following was accepted by the Grand Council: 'By the term "trained nurse," used in the constitution of the I.'C.N. is meant a nurse who during her period of training has received instruction and experience in at least four of the main branches of nursing, always including medical, surgical and children nursing, and who is competent on graduation to enter I lie general practice of nursing and to undertake the fundamental duties and responsibilities which are common to nurses in all the main fields of nursing, including private nursing, hospital nursing and visiting nursing.' " During its sittings the conference will consider a number of remits and subjects for discussion, among them being nursing education, both general and in connection with midwifery; salaries cf branches of the profession, as well as the matter of superannuation, the Nursing Journal, etc.