NURSES’ HOURS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18189, 23 June 1927, Page 9

NURSES’ HOURS.

To the Editor. Sir,—Sifted and summarised, most of the statements made at yesterday’s meeting of the Hospital Board coincide on one point--that the nurses are overworked. The only conflict of opinion is about the cause. Almost with tears in their eyes, certain members of the board seem to take up the stand that because no site for a nurses' home can be obtained in the domain the nurses are condemned to go without a regular weekly half-holiday and to work generally under depressing conditions. It’s a specious argument. The nurses are not to blame for the opposition to the site proposal and by no means should they be allowed to suffer from it. Here is a timely extract from a Sydney “Bulletin,” article on the subject of nurses’ hours:— It has been pretty generally recognised that the nursing profession is overworked and underpaid and that the conditions under which its members serve ought to be improved. . . In Maoriland they are better appreciators of the supply of cheerful, alert women. From her entry into Dunedin Hospital, a probationer receives regular physical culture tuition from an expert in a properly-equipped gymnasium; her posture and carriage are corrected if faulty; and the arches of her feet—a nurse is mostly standing when she isn’t running—are examined not only on entry, but from time to time, and treated if necessary. The result is less fatigue during the day and less sick-leave during the year. No Sydney hospital has dreamt of a gym. for nurses; yet the benefit would be tremendous. If the Sydney board’s idea Js to save money, it should follow other employers of labour who have found that it is cheaper in the long run to have a decent human regard for the welfare of those in tlieir employ. I commend those sentiments to the North Canterbury Hospital Board.—l am, etc., SQUARE DEAL.