NURSES’ DAY OFF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 196, 20 August 1931, Page 6

NURSES’ DAY OFF

HOSPITAL BOARD VIEWS FURTHER ACTION STATED NEW NOTICE OF MOTION. Again one day off in seven for nurses was the subject of discussion at a meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board. An effort to rescind the resolution empowering hospital executives to keep the number of nurses at 2.5 per occupied bed. was defeated yesterday. Later in the meeting notice of motion was given to move at the next meet ing that the motion should be amended to recommend the Alatron and Medical Superintendent that the nurses be given one day off in seven as circumstances might permit. Number Off Now. Before discussion opened, the Alatron and Aledical Superintendent were called in, and Air W. J. Rogers asked the Aledical Superintendent how many nurses were off last week owing to illhealth. The answer was six for five days, while four were off now.

Mr Rogers: Is that attributable t<strenuous over-work? Dr. Nelson: I do not think so. Continuing, Dr. Nelson said that the nurses were off for very trifling little things. Under ordinary conditions they would not knock off work, but at present the hospital was very particular in putting a nurse off, even if she had anything wrong with her. Air Rogers moved that the following motion on the books should be rescinded: That the staffing of the nurses be left entirely in the hands of the Alatron and the Aledical Superintendent and that it be a recommendation to those officers that as near as possible the number of nurses per occupied bed be 2.5.

“1 do not intend to take up much of your time in once again urging the members of this Board to agree, here and now, that a great wrong shall be put right, and that the day off in seven, as was formerly granted to our nurses, shall be immediately restored to them,” said Mr Rogers.

“Surely by this time, with a knowledge of the fact that several of our nurses have broken down in health, due to the severe physical strain imposed upon them in asking them to keep at their post continuously without the necessary day’s rest in seven. “I feel sure that not one member oi this Board would consciously impose a similar physical strain upon his own flesh and ’blood as has been imposed upon our nurses for some months now. 1 go further and say mat I feel sure members of this Board have not rcu lised the harmful effect of their decision, and 1 am confident that now this matter has been brought home to the Board, you tvill be in ready agreement to meet mv reasonable request. I trust bv this time, also, members of the Board will realise that there is a growing demand on the part of the public that the measure of justice formerly enjoyed by our nurses in the matter oi one day’s leave in seven shall be restcred to them.” Mr A. S. Coleman said he would second the motion pro forma to allow discussion, and asked if it were a tact that nurses had eight hours on, and six

hours off per day. The Alatron said that such was so, and that the breakfast nroak was half an hour, an hour for dinner and halt an hour for tea. Ministers’ Association Letter. The following letter was then read:— "At a meeting of the Wanganui Ministers’ Association, held on Mon day, August 15, the matter of the Hospital Board’s decision that the nurses are to work seven days a week was discussed, and we desire to enter out protest against this edecision oi your Board. We realise, of course, that it is impossible to grant the nurses the day of rest all at one time, but they arc entitled to one day a week in accord ance with accepted religious and social principles. Their work is arduous both to bodv and mind, and demands not onlv ordinary alertness, but a freshness of “mind which will ensure, patience, joyousness and good temper. The mood c£ the nurse is as important to the patient as her specific acts of alien tion, and we submit that to overwork a nurse, unless due to unavoidable, urgency, is a double wrong—to herelf and to her patient. Economy can be too expensive sometimes. We would urge reconsideration and retraction of your decision—On behalf of Hie Association, John Paterson.” Records of sickness in the nursing staff hud been kept, said Dr. Nelson in reply to a question, and the records showed that there had been Jess sick ncss since March last than for some time. The Board’s attitude was that everyone had to work harder at the present time than they had had to do before. He would say again that he did not think the girls were over worked. Air Rogers said he could have brought medical evidence, but did not want to take up the Board’s time. The motion was put to the meeting. Air Rogers’ being the only vote for the recession of the motion. Air Rogers then said that the matter would not be ended with the del ent. of the motion for rceission, and that a public meeting wouM be held. He stated that he had nothing to do with the public agitation on the question. Public Meeting Welcomed. Mr A. 8. Coleman said that he was very, very sorry that Mr Rogers had spoken in that vein. He felt sure that the Hospital Board had the co-opera-tion of the whole of the Wanganui district. He was sorry that Air Rogers had brought up the matter time and time again. He did not think that it was right to say that there wa 1 going to be agitation to force that upon the Board. Air Rogers said that he was not, re sponsible for letters, and one in particular, that had appeared in the Press and he was not responsible for the mention madt? of the matter In the editorial columns that morning in the “Chroni cle. ’’ The matter of votes for him did not come into it at all. The chairman said that the mem burr, of the Board appreciated the atti tudf of Air Rogers, and said that he. with other members of the Board would welcome that public meeting. The sooner it was held the better. He would be one of the first to give the nurses the,day off when the conditions of the country would allow. Members: Hear, hear. Continuing, the chairman said that many of the farmers were working 14 days a week. A member: What about their wives? The Chairman: Yes, and their wives, too. I think the nurses are a practical

I»(.dy of women, who realise their position and who will make that sacrifice. Mr Christensen said that ho was sorry that the motion io be brought foiward by Air Rogers had laid down a rule that the nurses should be given one day off in seven. He gave notice of motion that he would move at next meeting that the motion should be amended to read: “That it be a recommendation to the Alatron and Medical Superintendent that as near as possible there be one nurse to 2.5 beds and that it also be recommended that the nurses be given one day o?£ in seven as circumstances permit.” That would be a clear indication, said Mr Christensen, that the Board was trying to meet + hc position. Discussion then closed.