INTENSIVE TRAINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 18

INTENSIVE TRAINING.

PLUNKET SOCIETY'S OFFER.

MIDWIVES AND NURSES. In addition to its other activities, the Plunket Society is now offering a short post graduate course of training, of one month's duration, to all registered midwives and maternity nurses.

The first of these courses was held at the Karitane-Harris Hospital, Dunedin, in October, 1929. The course has been commended to all the midwives and maternity nurses in the Dominion by the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health.

So great has been the response that the Auckland and Wellington Karitane Hospitals have been called upon to give I assistance, thus proving beyond doubt how eager our New Zealand nurses arc to extend their knowledge for the benefit of mothers and babies. The first course to bo held at Auckland was opened on March 10 by Dr. \V. H. Parkes, who apologised for the unavoidable absence through illness of Dr. Derrick (medical director of the Plunket Society), In his opening address Dr. f Parkes said.—" One of the difficult problems throughout the world at the present timo is the high death-rate associated with child-birth. It is agreed that one of the most important factors in remedying the evil is a high standard of efficiency among maternity nurses. " The lowest maternal death-rate, and also for infants in the first month of life, is in Denmark, and with the object of equalling or surpassing such a record every facility is being offered in New Zealand for nurses to perfect themselves in their special work. It will be a proud day for the Dominion when the risk of child-birth has been reduced to a minimum, and the mortality will have fallen to a point establishing a world's record, thus sharing a distinction already earned with regard to infants. " To the achievement of this splendid result each one of you may contribute by the exercise of the utmost care in nursing technique &nd a constant endeavour to keep us to date in methods. Medical lectures will be given by Dr. Tracy Inglis and Dr. J. Reid. Miss Kearns, a special tutor sister, has been appointed by the Central Council of the Society. The curriculum deals extensively with the pre-natal care of the mother, general regimen, and rules for health, natural feeding and all pertaining to the care of the mother during labour, and the baby during the first month of life, especially the first two weeks. Demonstrations dealing with these subjects will also be given by the matron of St.. Helen's Hospital, matron and sisters of the Karitane Hospital and Plunket nurses .at Plunket Headquarters, 96, Symonds Street.