District Nursing in New Zealand

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume II, Issue 2, 1 April 1909, Page 48

District Nursing in New Zealand

[BY A " COUNTY NURSE."]

The post of M County Nurse," is one of the new openings for nurses in this country, designed to make efficient nursing available for the dwJlers in scattered country districts. As these posts are likely to be multiplied, readers of the journal may be interested in the experiences of a " County Nurse." Th? appointment, in this instance, is made by the County Council, who guarantee a retaining fee of £1 psr week, and also decide the place of residence. The condition is that patients shall not be charged more than a fee of £2 2s. per week, with travelling ex-p-ns"s. Beyond this the Council does not interfere, and the arrangement works lyThe amount of work varies, but expenses are lights and at the end of the year the balanc .-she«.t compares Well with that of the city nurse. The disadvantages of country life are more imagiua-y thau real. The nurse who can fo;ego the stir and excitement of the city to; the simpler pleasures of the country, will find ample comp nsation. I have the good fo tun^ to be stationed at one of the loveliest of seaside resorts. A call to a case usually involves a trip across the bay, very pleasant

if the day is fine. Frequently this is followed by a railway journey, and a ride or drive, to reach my destination. There is variety, too, in the homes I visit ; but everywhere I meet with kindness, and solicitude for my comfort, and a very genuine appreciation of the services I am able to render. The chief drawback to the life is the risk of growing "rusty." The best preventive would be to alternate district, with hospital work. I think, too, that the district nurse should cultivate a hobby in her leisure hours. It will prove a prophylactic against ennui, should the health of the district be, at any time abnormally high. [Editor's note — We should like to draw attention to the advertisement which has been in the papers for a " County Nurse," for the Whangaroa district, in the Bay of Islands. The above account of her work, by Nurse Hames, who is stationed at Russell, also in the Bay of Islands, should assure nurses that they might do much worse, than to accept such a post both from a monetary point of view and from that of an interesting and agreeable life. A letter to the secretary of Whangaroa County Council would obtain details.]