RESIGNATION OF NURSES

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1933, Page 8

RESIGNATION OF NURSES

REASON SOUGHT BY BOARD. “WE GET TOO MANY OF THESE.” When the resignation of a nurse was received by the Stratford Hospital Board yesterday several members remarked on the fact that she resigned ‘“because she had no desire to continue with nursing." They considered the reason to be not very explanatory, referred to the number of resignations received from nurses during the last few years, and finally passed a motion asking the superintendent (Dr. D. Steven) and the matron (Mrs. J. Hunt) if they could explain why there were so many resignations. “We get too many of these resignations,” said Mrs. M. T. Phillips, after the resignation was*read. Mr. J. Cormick: Why is she resigning? “Because she has no desire to continue,” replied the chairman (Mr. W. L. Kennedy, quoting from the nurse’s letter. There was certainly a large number of resignations, though he did not know the cause, Mr. L. Bunn stated. “It has always been the same,” the chairman remarked. “They join up, and then resign when they find that the work is too hard, or else that they are not suited to it.”

The secretary (Mr. T. H. Penn) stated that there had been 90 nurses through the hospital in the last five years. The usual complement was 15. Mr. Bunn: That is a terrible lot. Are conditions made too hard for them? “It takes a strong girl to stand up to nursing,” Mr. G. P. Harkness said. Mrs. Phillips alleged the matron was too hard on the nurses; she was a capable woman, but she was too hard. Mr. Bunn said he had heard that, too. Mr. Harkness: Of course, they all Say that.

The chairman pointed out that the management of the hospital was in the hands of Dr. D. Steven and the matron, who knew why nurses resigned. It was more their business than that of the board unless complaints were made.