The Visiting Nurse

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume II, Issue 4, 1 October 1909, Page 165

The Visiting Nurse

The question of the visiting nurse in one form or other is attracting attention outside our own borders. At the recent meeting in Brisbane of the National Council of Women, Lady Dudley is reported to have spoken as follows : — * There are one or two other matters which I hope some day T may hear considered by the women of this and other States in Australia. Two suggestions have come to me from what I have seen in the country districts of Queensland and elsewhere, and I mention them because, if they commend themselves to you, it seems to me that they are peculiarly part of the work which women do best, and for which they are most fitted. The first of these is district nursing ; not only town district nursing, but country district nursing as^well. I know this whole question of country district nursing in Australia is surrounded by many and great difficulties,

and even were a practical scheme formulated it would not be easy to carry it out. But few reforms which need a widespread organisation are easy of accomplishment, and with courage, commonsense, and perseverance, difficulties which appear insuperable are eventually overcome. " The question I would desire to see considered by the women of Australia is that of the hardship entailed upon women and children in times of accident or illness, who, living in remote bush districts, are far removed from medical or skilled assistance. If it were an established fact that to such as these the ministrations of a trained nurse resident in the district would be a boon and an assistance, then we need only concern ourselves with the recognition of this fact, and set to work to meet the need, regardless of all difficulties in the way." —From "Una."