The Conference of Branches of the Australasian Trained Nurses' Association

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume II, Issue 4, 1 October 1909, Page 136

The Conference of Branches of the Australasian Trained Nurses' Association

The Interstate Conference, of which the programme of business was given in our last issue, met as arranged on 19th July. There was an excellent attendance of delegates : Dr. McLean and Miss Hunter from Queensland ; Mrs. Scott and Dr. Campston, of Western Australia ; Mrs. Chennell and Dr. Wilson, of South Australia ; Dr. Ramsay and Miss Wayn, of Tasmania. Many subjects of great importance to the Association and to nurses generally, were discussed, and, to quote from the " A.T.N.A. Journal " : — ' The outstanding feature that marked all discussions was the sole desire of furthering the welfare of the Association. The delegates, in supporting the motions standing in their States' name, did not fail to make it evident that if such were not acceptable to the other States, they were willing to modify or even abandon, the suggestions. It ■was gratifying to hear the expressions of loyalty to the parent body voiced on all occasions by the various delegates. One proposal to have a Federal Council of Control was negatived. Each State had at present full control over local affairs, and the Sydney Council was only referred to in cases of difficulty in interpretation of rules, and so on. It was thought better to allow matters to remain as they were. It was not considered that members in Sydney could intimately discuss the well-being and business of nurses in distant centres. Also, in view of the probability of early State Registration, it would be a pity to disturb existing arrangements which had worked so well for ten years. State Registration was the most important subject of discussion. A Bill was being brought forward in New South Wales, which was a satisfactory one, providing for representation of modern doctors and modern nurses, and a Board so composed would not be likely to lower the present standard attained by the Association. If this Bill were passed in New South Wales, the other States were then more likely to get good Bills. After some discussion, it was moved : — " That this Conference approves of the principle of Dr. Mackellar's Nurses' Registration Bill, and would be glad to see such a Bill passed.' 1

The resolution was carried unanimously. Insurance of nurses was discussed, but nothing very definite was decided. A question then, of very considerable interest to nurses was discussed : That was the training of nurses in private hospitals, and a motion was brought forward that : — " The recognition of private hospitals as training schools be abolished." Much was said on both sides. Dr. Blackburn said that the experience of the Association in N S.W. was favourable to such training. All the nurses in training in private hospitals recognised, attended lectures at either the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, or the Sydney Hospital, and passed the examinations of the Hospitals as well as of the A.T.N. A. In Adelaide all the private hospital nurses attended regular courses of lectures at the University. The course of medical and surgical work was irregular, but not more so than in a small general hospital. Two matrons of private hospitals and one doctor spoke against training in private hospitals, giving many excellent reasons ; but Dr. Fiaschi, the Chairman, put the point of view which must especially appeal to us in N.Z. He did not think you could compare the training in a private hospital for a moment, with the training in the Sydney, Prince Alfred, or Coast Hospitals — that he was quite prepared to admit ; but ho could not admit that the training was not as good as that of country hospitals, where many of the cases were often chronics. The point of view of the patient who goes to a private hospital paying for, and expecting trained nursing, was also touched upon. One doctor considered that that question rested with the doctors ; they must be satisfied that their patients were well nursed, and that patients could not expect, to be nursed and attended entirely by trained nurses. The motion was put to the meeting and lost. Graduation from small to large hospitals was a motion which was brought forward, and the principle was approved so long as the Council is satisfied that the training so

carried out is equivalent to that in a single hospital. The difficulty of putting this principle into practice will be with the large hospitals, which will not be willing to take probationers from small ones and complete their training. Training in Children's Hospitals was discussed, and a resolution carried :—- " That in the opinion of this Conference, nurses trained in children's hospitals, until they have completed an additional year in a general hospital, shall have their names, after passing the examination, published in a special register ; but if they have passed the examination after completing an additional year in a general hospital, they shall be entitled to have their names appear both on the Children's Register and the General Register ; and that a nurse trained in a general hospital be entitled to have her name on the Children's Register after completing an additional year's tiaining in a children's hospital." [This discussion does not at present specially interest New Zealand nurses, as there are no special children's hospitals, and all hospitals either have children's wards, or receive children into the general wards. — Ed.] A registered outdoor uniform for trained nurses belonging to the A.T.N.A. was spoken of, but not considered seriously. This has been mooted several times by New Zealand nurses, and they will be interested to learn that a uniform could be registered, but it must be absolutely unique, and specified in all details ; therefore, as it would practically be impossible to get a large number of nurses to agree to adhere so strictly to one fashion, we must be satisfied with the badge as a distinguishing token. The last, and by no means the least, important matter which came before the Conference was that of eight-hour duty for nurses. Although most of those who spoke thought that in Australia the hours of duty were excessive, yet no one advocated an eight-hour system. One doctor said that, ' He considered the amount of leave was much more important than the number of hours worked a day. A nurse should have one day in each week off duty, then without harm she might work for ten or more hours a day, on the days that she was on duty/' It was moved and carried : * ' That in the opinion of this Conference the hours of hospital nurses are excessive, and that the number of hours on duty per week should be reduced/' This resolution was put merely as a record of the opinion of the meeting, representative

as it was of between 2,000 and 3,000 nurses, but it was recognised that this was entirely a matter of hospital administration. The Conference terminated on 21st July, and it was felt that much good had been accomplished by the meeting of the delegates from the various branches of the Association. Some entertainments had been arranged for the delegates, and the visitors were shown round the large hospitals. [This account of the discussions entered into by the A.T.N.A. must bring before the members of the New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association the wide scope which may in the future be before them for consideration of matters relating to their profession. In Australia it is likely before long that there will be an Act for the Registration of nurses, and that the general supervision of training schools and arrangements of State examinations will be no longer in the hands of the Association ; but outside this, the affairs of trained nurses will frequently present problems for consideration, and possibly for representation to the body governing the registration of future nurses. The good fellowship also fostered by belonging to an association of people all interested in the same life work is of the greatest value, as well as pleasure. And so we hope that for their own sakes, as well as for that of the N.Z.T.N. Association in general, all nurses in New Zealand will assist in building up a useful and influential organisation from which all party feeling, either with regard to local interests or political questions, may be entirely eliminated. — Editor.]