Canterbury Trained Nurses' Association

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume 01, Issue 4, 1 October 1908, Page 109

Canterbury Trained Nurses' Association

A meeting of nurses was held in Miss Cox's rooms last evening for the purpose of forming a Trained Nurses' Association. The chair was occupied by Miss Maclean, I v ady Inspector of Hospitals, and there was a large attendance of nurses. Dr. Crooke (House Surgeon of the Christchurch Hospital), and Dr. Talbot (President of the Medical Society), Archdeacon Averill and Dr. Irving and Eleanor Baker were also present. Apologies were received from Mrs. R. Heaton Rhodes and Mrs. Crawford. Miss Maclean said that Associations had already been formed in Wellington, Dunedin and Auckland. The local organisation was, she was glad to learn, to be called the Canterbury Association, which would have a much wider scope than a Christchurch organisation. The next step should be to form a New Zealand Association. If the nurses of New Zealand were banded together, they would be much better able to promote their interests than they were at present. A Central Executive could do valuable work for the general body of nurses, and the detail work could be safely left to the provincial associations. The medical men had been invited to assist the Association, and their help would be invaluable, as it had proved in other countries where such associations existed. In regard to legislation affecting nurses, she pointed out that nurses had not, as a body, had an opportunity to put their views before the Government. She looked forward to great assistance being given in this direction by the Association, especially in regard to the improvement of the systems of training, registration, and examination. She had the authority of Dr. Valintine to say that the nurses would have an opportunity of discussing these matters, and that their recommendations and suggestions : would be favourably considered." * Next year there would probably be an amendment of the Nurses' Registration Act ; but before anything was finally decided the amendments would be submitted to the Association for its opinion. The speaker referred at length to the benefits which the formation of an Association would secure to nurses, from both social and professional points of view.

The objects of the Association, as proposed by the provisional committee and adopted by the meeting were : — To promote the interests, professionally and socially, of all trained nurses ; to afford opportunities for discussing subjects bearing on nursing ; to encourage a post-graduate couise of study ; and to favour the discussion of subjects of general interest, apart from nursing."^ The qualifications of members, as decided upon by the meeting were : — Holders of certificates from recognised general hospitals, duly qualified medical practitioners ; auxiliary branches : midwives, holders of certificates from recognised training schools, holders of Government certificates of mental hospital training for three years, certificated members of the Australasian Massage ciationArchdeacon Averill inquired whether these rules would not debar nurses trained in private hospitals. Miss Maclean replied that the Association should not take nurses who were not eligible to be on the Government register, as that would lower the standard of nursing. There was no training in private hospitals— these institutions did not undertake to train their nurses. In the fv.ture amendment of the Act, the nurses in private hospitals be considered, ar.d a method of training being brought forward. It was decided that the fee for membership be five shillings per annum. In the event of a club-room being opened the subscription could be increased. The following were elected members of the Council for the remainder of the year : President, Mrs. Scott (who had been acting as provisional chairwoman) ; Vice-Presi-dents, Mrs. Moreland arc! Miss Maude ; Hon. Treasurer, Mrs. Irvirg ; Hon. Secretary, Mrs Lievre ; committee, Dr. Palmer, Matron of the Christchurch Hospital (Miss Thurston), Matron of St. Helens (Miss Inglis), Miss Ewart, Miss Turner, and Miss Collins. Three nurses' engaged in private nursing, all to be nominated by the nurses themselves, and elected, to complete the Council. One of these is to be a midwifery nurse. Miss Maclean was unanimously requested to accept the office of Patroness of the Asso-

ciation, and she agreed to do so, acknowledging the compliment paid her. It was decided to hold the first annual meeting in July next. Archdeacon Averill, in the course of a few congratulatory and encouraging remarks,

wished the Association every success in its efforts to maintain the ideals of the nursing profession. On the motion of Dr. Talbot and Miss Kwart, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Miss Maclean for presiding. — The Press.