Nursing in South Africa

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume X, Issue 4, 1 October 1917, Page 225

Nursing in South Africa

The Transvaal Medical Council suggests laying down lules that no nurse m hospital shall be on duty more than six days or six nights a week, that night duty shall not be longer than eleven hours, or go on for more than three months . The ' ' South African Nursing Record considers that these are matters for the matrons, and that Council would be better employed m fixing salaries and starting a pension scheme. At the annual meeting of the South African Trained Nurses' Association many important questions are to be discussed, including compulsory registration for nurses and midwives, protection of uniform, suppression of untrained midwives, impracticability of an eight-hour day for nurses, organisation of pension funds and rest homes, prohibition of full training for coloured nurses, establishment of a universal fee, and registration of fever nurses.

Tn view of the coming of a central examination m this country, it is interesting to note that one branch urges that a matron's recommendation should be necessary for candidates, because (i often a person passes and receives her certificate who is not fitted for the nursing profession, whereas, on the other hand, a thoroughly reliable and good nurse fails m her examination." We agree with the " South African Nursing Record." Matrons are much better qualified to judge as to the length of duty than doctors, who see practically very little of the actual work of the nurses. We do not m New Zealand find that the eight hour day is an entire benefit, and feel, as we have frequently stated, convinced that a weekly consecutive 24 hours off duty and longer hours on every other day would be of more physical benefit and also more enjoyable than our present system.