RESIGNATION OF NURSES

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1933, Page 8

RESIGNATION OF NURSES

NUMBER QUERIED BY BOARD REPLY BY DOCTOR AND NURSES. NEW LIGHT THROWN ON MATTER. DENIAL OF HARD CONDITIONS. To the allegation that the number of nurses who had resigned from the Stratford hospital in the last five years-was excessive and to the imputation that conditions at the hospital were made too hard for the nurses, direct denials were given in a report presented to the board meeting yesterday by the medical superintendent (Dr. D. Steven) and in a letter sent by 15 nurses. The board accepted Dr. Steven’s report as satisfactory, and one that gave the matter a different aspect from that which attached to it at the previous meeting. The letter from the nurses was received.

The embryo from which interest in the question was aroused was a letter, received at the last meeting, in which a nurse resigned “because she had no desire to continue with nursing.” Several members 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. Steven) and the matron (Mrs; J. Hunt) if they could explain why there were so many resignations. Dr. Steven reported yesterday that the number of nurses who had gone through the hospital in the last five years was 50 and not 90. The number was greater than would ordinarily be the case owing to the fact that there was a maternity ward to which trained nurses came for a period of six months to receive their maternity, formerly midwifery, training. The main hospital was also a training school for general nurses, who took a three years’ course. All nurses left automatically at the end of the:r training unless there ■ was a vacancy allowing of their promotion to the staff. Out of the 50 who had left during the past five years 30 had completed the train,ing they joined to receive. They had passed the State examinations in midwifery, in maternity or general nursing —in several cases all three —and . left automatically. There were 21 resignations during the period mentioned, five being of certificated nurses and 16 of pupil nurses or probationers in training. “I beg to refute emphatically,” Dr. Steven went on, “any suggestion of undue hardness on the part of the matron. Resignations at Stratford over the period are less than formerly, and I believe they are less than in other hospitals. Expressed as a percentage the figure, is 16.8, while the average for the Dominion is 20 per’cent, to 25 per cent.”

TELEGRAPH REPORT CRITICISED.

Dr. Steven referred to a report in the Christchurch Press, received from Stratford by telegraph and relating to the discussion at the last meeting on the subject of nurses’ resignations. He claimed the report contained statements that were unfair to the matron and prejudicial to the reputation of the hospital as a training school for nurses. The chairman said the report certainly gave a wrong impression of the trend of the meeting, and he compared it unfavourably with the reports that appeared in the Taranaki Press. Mr. Cormick: Of course it is a condensed report The report of the superintendent appeared to him to be quite satisfactory, said the chairman, who quoted the number of resignations at the Napier hospital, in one month, to show that the practice was not confined to Stratford. The secretary, Mr. Penn, stated that when he said at the last meeting that 90 nurses passed through the hospital in five years he was speaking from memory and was in error. . s •> Mr?. Phillips mentioned that one nurse left practically without notice though she had come with the best of recommendations. ; . The chairman explained that in that case there was a sound reason behind the nurse’s leaving. It was decided that as the doctor s report had given a different light on the resignations the board was satisfied and regretted the error in the figures. The letter received from and signed by 15 nurses stated: “We view with grave concern the inaccurate statements emanating from board members afid reflecting on the good name of your institution and on our training school. Because some such statements have been broadcast to the detriment of the hospital and its staff we desire to stress the following points: (a) Regarding Mrs. Phillips’ reported remark that our. matron is ‘too hard’ we should be interested to know from what source she obtained such sensational information, for we should like to act in the matter. Such a statement is not only untrue but absurd. We appreciate the methods adopted by Mrs. Hunt in disciplining the institution of which she is in charge. We know her worth as. a matron. (b) Regarding a newspaper report concerning oranges used at the hospital, we enclose a clipping from the Taranaki Herald. As this matter was taken in committee at the board meeting we consider there has been a great breach, of faith on the board’s part in allowing such a report to appear in the Press and to be broadcast throughout the Dominion. The complainant.in the matter of the oranges has admitted that, his complaint was unjustifiable. “LOYALTY TO HOSPITAL.” “The staff wishes to emphasise its loyalty to the hospital and to the board in combating all untrue statements such as these. We believe that there is at present a majority of members which values the loyalty of the matron and staff. We expected a reciprocal measure of loyalty from the board. We humbly solicit that our views, as staged herein, be accorded the same measure of publicity as has been given the statements regarding the matron and staff. “The beauty chorus is out again, Mr. J. Cormick remarked facetiously. *’lt seems that the nurses were incensed but I do not think they should be allowed to hold the sort of meetings they have.” , The chairman: We do not want to do anything that will disorganise the hospital. “It seems to me that some of them up there want to sit on the members, and if we are going to have petitions sent to us every time we say something.about the hospital, goodness gracious,” said Mr. L. Bunn. “The members have to sit up and take what is coming to them apparently.” The board should deprecate the holding of meetings by the nurses, Mr. Cormick said.

Mrs. Phillips: I speak too plainly for some of them.

Mr. Cormick: Everyone knows that Mrs. Phillips does not make wild statements.

Mr. Bunn moved and Mr. Cormick seconded that the letter be received. “I don’t think we need say anything mpre about the little song and dance by the beauty chorus,” Mr. Cormick said.

“There has been too much talk about beauty choruses,” retorted the chairman. “That sort of thing does a lot of harm and we have a very, competent staff and efficient organisation,” The chairman said he had consulted a reporter who. had told him that the paragraph complained of was written from information gathered outside the The nurses’ letter was received. (