Overseas Methods In Midwifery Reviewed By Nursing Director

Southland Times, Issue 23538, 18 June 1938, Page 16

Overseas Methods In Midwifery Reviewed By Nursing Director

Miss M. I. Lambie, Director of the Division of Nursing in New Zealand, gave an interesting address in Wellington recently on the observations die had, made in various countries in regard to obstetrical nursing during her overseas tour last year. In referring to Canada and the United States of America, Miss Lambie stated that midwifery as we understand it, did not exist. The only “midwives” were untrained, uneducated women, many of them negresses, whose work in most cases was appalling. Some obstetrical nursing formed part of the general nursing course, and an intensive obstetrical nursing post graduate training was available for trained nurses, but there was no midwifery training as New Zealand nurses i may have. The' highly-developed midwifery I services of Holland, Denmark and Sweden were reviewed. Midwifery ini these countries had a recognized standing of many centuries, midwifery having been given in Denmark and Hol-1

land since the eighteenth century. It was a State service; and yzas very well organized. The position held by the midwife, the salaries, living conditions, and adequate retiring pensions made it a most attractive profession for women. Applicants for training were very well selected, and in Denmark in 1937 there were 450 applicants for 40 vacancies. The training was most intensive, and was for a period of two years in Denmark and Sweden, and three years in Holland. Trained nurses might take the course in one year and two years respectively, but they rarely undertook this training. Some obseterical nursing was done during the general training. Compulsory refresher courses were taken by midwives every five years. In Great Britain the State had recently taken over the midwifery services. The length of training had been

increased to one year for trained nurses and to two years for untrained women. There was also a “part I” section and examinations at the end of six months and 18 months respectively before the final six months midwifery course was taken in a second hospital. This was an interesting point because it now corresponded to the type of training which had been in existence in New Zealand for the past ten years. Local authorities had organized the midwifery services for their particular areas. Practising midwives who were inefficient or over 60 years of age were retired and compensated. In referring to the New Zealand work, Miss Lambie showed the points of difference from other countries. For instance, maternity. training schools in New Zealand had much larger staffs than those of Canada and the United States of America. An adequate staff was necessary for the detailed care given to our patients, and to facilitate the practice of the “Case Nursing” method, which was used in all New

Zealand maternity and midwifery training schools. By this method the pupil undertook the complete nursing care of the mother and her baby during the time in hospital. For maternity work this method was peculiar to New Zealand.

The difficulty at present being experienced in obtaining obstetrical nurses was mainly due to the conditions existing for them. Some private hospitals, for instance, found it extremely difficult to provide adequate salary and living conditions at the present time. The latest figure for New Zealand maternal mortality was 3.5 deaths a 100 live births, and deducting the numbers for septic abortion from these figures, gave 2.69, the lowest New Zealand record. Miss Lambie paid a tribute to the obstetrical nurses and the part they had played toward this reduction.