REGISTRATION OF NURSING AIDS

Southland Times, Issue 23921, 13 September 1939, Page 8

REGISTRATION OF NURSING AIDS

AUTHORITY GIVEN IN NEW BILL PROVISION MADE FOR TRAINING (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 12. Authority for the registration and training of nursing aids is contained in the Nurses and Midwives Registration Amendment Bill which was introduced by Governor-General’s Message in the House of Representatives today. A “nursing aid” is defined as a person other than a registered, or qualified nurse who is fitted by virtue of special training to undertake nursing duties. . . Registration as nursing aids will be available to persons who can satisfy the authorities that they are not less than

19 years of age; that they have received in an approved training school not less than two years’ theoretical instruction and practical training; and that they have passed the prescribed examination and are of good character and reputation. Any hospital or other institution controlled by the State or a hospital board or any private charitable institution approved by the authorities may be used as a training school for nursing aids The Bill also contains several clauses of a miscellaneous nature. One of these provides that hospitals may be approved as training schools for nurses. PRACTISING CERTIFICATES Registered nurses, midwives, maternity nurses or nursing aids shall be required after next February to take out annual practising certificates and the conditions for the issue of these are also set out. The authorities are given power in cases of grave impropriety or misconduct to suspend registration, but provision is made for the right of appeal. Penalties are provided for the use of a nursing uniform by unregistered persons. , , When the Bill was introduced the Minister of Health (the Hon. P. Fraser) said it was designed to provide nursing aids to smaller hospitals where a complete staff of fully-trained nurses was not necessary or was not available. The aids would be given some training and would, it was hoped, eventually be available for assistance to mothers in terms of the recommendation of the Maternity Services report. The Bill was read a first time.