THE NURSING PROFESSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18049, 24 September 1920, Page 8

THE NURSING PROFESSION

INDUCEMENTS TO ENTER NEEDED.

HOSPITAL }30.\1!I)\S DUT'ICULTY.

Matron of lbo Dmiodin Hospital : (Juiss IWilcs). ivpurtinp: on Soplombcr 20, slated that thvro were. 26 nitres otf duty tliiil. clay, of whom 20 were suffering from llmos.-r, mostly mild influenza. In answer to an urgent advertisement one V.A.D. only had coino on duty (salary £2 2s per week) The 26 nur.-es olf duly were, in itduttion to tho short.ULro of 22 probationer nurses, making a total shortage of 43. OL the total seven wore allowed for holiday duty, making the actual shortage 41. In tljG meantime only urgent cases wore being 'admitted to the Dunodiri Hospital. Mr Dove said that, the fact, that- young women wore not coming forward to take up tho nursing profession showed that there was aorftething radically wrong. It seemed to him Kit. the first and second year salaries must be substantially increased with a view to inducing young women to lake up the work. Proceeding, Mr Dove pointed out that' the whole working conditions of tile mirsinj®)rofespion compared very unfavourably with other opportunities offering to young women, and there would have to bo a change, particularly in regard to making provision for holidays. If a weekly .holiday was to lw> instituted (and he considered it must be dono in tho near fuiuie) they would have to allow for an increase of fine-seventh in tho staff. The whole difficulty was not one facing tho Otago Board alone; all tho boards were faced with it. He gave notice that when the "Finance Committee's report was under consideration lie would move to refer back the clause relating to nurses' salaries. Tho Chairman stated that Dr Falconer had jusj notified him that there wero now seven V.A.D.'s at work, and the position was relieved to that extent. He w;is practically in accord with Mr Dove's statements in regard to tho shortage. What troubled them and deserved serious considcration was the shortage of eligible young women offering. .Some little time ago they had been told the difficulty applied to Dunedin alone, .but they were certain to-day that it applied to the dominion as a -whole. It was necessary for the board to seriously consider the position. In accordance with w'-at- Mr Dove and tho chairman had said, Mr Quelch. in moving the adoption of the Finance Committee's report, asked if it was agreeable to refer back the clause mentioned and '■members signified approval. The clause provided for the coming into operation on January 1 of tho minimum scale of salaries adopted at the recent conference in Wellington of representatives of all the hospital boards.