HOURS OF NURSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23351, 17 November 1937, Page 14

HOURS OF NURSES

REDUCTION IN AUCKLAND -y BREAKS v AUQWJED FOR MEALS/, (Per United. Press Association)'.r. •Auckland, Nov.; M\ ... Action that was described by.-Dr J. P. Hastings as possibly enabling.New Zealand to lead the world was. taken by the Auckland Hospital Board to-day when it approved of a recommendation of the lady superintendent (Miss E. Nutsey) to reduce the working hours of nurses from 48 to 45 a week. None of the three daily shifts will now exceed seven hours and a-half. Reporting for duty after breakfast, the morning nurses will work from 7 a.m. until 3.15 p.m., with three-quarters of an hour free for lunch. A similar break for tea win be enjoyed by the afternoon nurses, who are to be on duty from 2.45 p.m. until 11 p.m., while half an hour free for a meal at midnight will be allowed night nurses, who will work between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The hours for nurses on divided duty will be from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. and from 4.30 p.m. until 6 p.m. "This represents a very consider- .. able improvement," stated the chairman (the Rev. W. C. Wood). "Seven hours and a-half of duty is the shortest shift in any hospital in the Dominion." Mrs Dreaver expressed a hope* that, in order to balance the effect of the shorter hours, steps would be taken to increase the strength of the staff. Miss Nutsoy, who was complimented by the board on her report, was instructed to report on the question of adding to the number of nurses in training.