The Fourth Year for Nurses

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Issue 2, 1 April 1917, Page 113

The Fourth Year for Nurses

There are in the nursing world at present, one or two subjects that are causing discussion and criticism among those in training as nurses. "The fourth yeaiv' Mention it among nurses and after a lengthy argument the verdict is "Well! unless I'm absolutely obliged, I shall not stay my fourth year." Now, the fourth year was instituted by those in authority in New Zealand for the purpose of giving trained nurses, further experience which was difficult to give during their three years in their training schools. Massage, X Ray treatment, dispensary work, acting sisters for a term, staff nurses, midwifery, extended theatre work. All these are extremely helpful and were they what a nurse received, there would be no question as to the advisability of her remaining on in her hospital for her fourth year. But the action of the Hospital Boards in requiring nurses to sign for four years in order to train at all does not seem advisable. In New Zealand Government hospitals a nurse receives , after three years' general training, provided she has passed the hospital examination, her

hospital certificate. Within a few weeks she sits for the State examination, and, having passed both, she receives her medal and is a certificated nurse. The question arises, is it fair to compel her to remain at a minimum salary unless she receives a thorough training in further branches of her profession. At the present time in some hospitals a nurse staying her fourth year receives no further training, but may be obliged to take exactly the same position as during her training time. Now, there is an element of unfairness in this. One can quite understand the boards wishing to keep trained nurses, but unless they provide for their further and advanced training or increase considerably their salaries it seems unjust to the nurse. There is no doubt that all nurses want further experience, but if there is no opportunity for receiving it in their training schools, they should certainly have the option of going where they will receive a three years' training. This is one of the matters that is being extensively discussed among nurses in training and deserves investigation. — NURSE,