Midwifery Training and Reciprocal Recognition

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VII, Issue 2, 1 April 1914, Page 55

Midwifery Training and Reciprocal Recognition

The above subject has been much discussed of late and if such discussion should lead to not only a reciprocal recognition but a uniform system of training m this important branch of nursing m ali British countries at least, some good would result New Zealand has set a fair standard as regards term and curriculum of training and has instituted a uniform examination and legislation by the State ; besides establishing State Training Schools m the chief centres. In this, she is ahead of the other Australasian States. In New South Wales, under the 1 Australasian Trained Nurses' Association, the term of training is the same as m New Zealand, viz., six months for trained nurses ; twelve months for other women, and quite recently the Victorian trained Nurses' Association has come into line.

There are still, however, differences with regard to the recognition of Midwives from Great Britain, where the standard set by the Central Midwives Board is deplorably low. In Australia (with the exception of Western Australia), the Certificates of the C.M.B. are not accepted unless accompanied by a Certificate of training of equal term with that instituted by the Associations. In Western Australia there is then, no training school, properly speaking ; but the Medical Department of Western Australia ask for women to attend lectures at the Old Women's Home, Fremantle. and to attend 20 cases, after which an examination is held at the end of twelve months. There is no term of six months for trained nurses, who all go to the other states for training, and are then registered by the Midwifery Board.

A midwife with the C.M.B. Certificate gained m three months, and possibly with nothing but a course of practical training m a district under a mid. wife or doctor, may also be accepted. In New Zealand it was recognised by the framers of the Midwives Act, that, while setting a certain standard with a fair term of training for midwives, qualified under the Act, it would be unwise, with the great need of trained midwives for this new country to make a hard and fast rule ■ therefore the Registrar of Midwives was given the power to recognise such certificate as he considered vouched for a fairly adequate training. His assistants m the registration of nurses and midwives, being both trained nurses and midwives, can of course, be of great help m discriminating between the varied and very unequal modes of preparation accepted by the Central Midwives Board. Certificates from training schools such as The Rotunda, Queen Charlotte's, and indeed many other training schools where a term of actual teaching, m an institution is m force, are accepted, and among these training schools many of the general hospitals with midwifery schools are attached are included. We regret to state that some of these hospital training schools must be shut out owing to the fact that the three months'

midwifery course is included m the three year course of general training, and therefore m New Zealand , where under the Nurses Registration Act, is required, three full years of general training, both certificates gained during that term cannot be counted, unless the time has been made up by remaining on the staff for an additional three months. In that case the break m general training to take the midwifery course is allowed to pass. While fully recognising that knowledge obtained m such a way, even by trained nurses, is not by any means equal to that gained by untrained women during" the twelve months' study of midwifery alone, it has not been desired to penalise the nurses coming to the Colony by refusing them recognition, owing to the lower standard, which has not been set by themselves. We consider that the Australasian States are wrong, m not accepting the best standard which so far is obtainable m the Mother Country. At the same time we consider that it is the duty of the Central Midwives' Board to at once amend the Midwives' Act so that training m the British Dominions may have reciprocal recognition. We have had correspondence with that body on the matter and are aware that m the Amended Bill, which is waiting for an opportunity to be brought before Parliament, there is a clause under which New Zealand midwives will be eligible for registration.