Army Nurses

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XII, Issue 1, 1 January 1919, Page 29

Army Nurses

The following extract from the British k Journal of Nursing " is of interest. Tho honorary ranks mentioned are the same as those held in the New Zealand Army Nursing Service. Whether this rank is to be indicated in any way is not mentioned in the regulations. The pay, unfortunately, does not appear commensurate with the rank. It is considerably less than paid in any of the Army Services in the Dominions ; less than that hitherto paid in the New Zealand Service, which has recently been considerably raised with effect from April Ist, 1918. (See scale below) Nurses take Rank as Officers. It is with great pleasure that we drawattention to the announcement in the regulations for the members of the Royal Air Force Nursing Service, published on pages 139 and 140, that honorary rank as officers is to be granted to the members of the Service, the Matron-in-Chief as major, Mat rons and Superintending Sisters as captains, Sisters as lieutenants, and Staff-Nurses as sec< > n < 1 -lieutenants . Nothing could make the Service more popular, or conduce more to its efficiency by attracting a high type of nurse. The thanks of the nursing profession are due to the Air Ministry for conferring on the members of the newest Nursing Service the rank which has so far been withheld from the members of the sister Services. The Royal Air Force Nursing Service. The following are the necessary qualifications and conditions of service for members of the temporary Air Force Nursing Service : — A. CONSTITUTION. (1) Matron-in-Chief, (2) Matrons, (3) Superintendent ing Sisters, (4) Sisters, (5) Staff -Nurses. B. QUALIFICATIONS. A candidate for appointment in the Royal Air Force Nursing Service must be duly qualified according to the following regulations : — She must possess a certificate of not less than three years' training in a civil hospital, having not less than 100 beds.

She must be of British parentage and between 25 and 45 years of age, single or a widow. The Matron-in-Chief will be required to satisfy the Advisory Board that, as regards education, character, and social status, the candidate is a fit person to be admitted to the Royal Air Force Nursing Service. The candidate will be required to fill in and return the form of application which will be forwarded to her, together with the following documents : (a) Certificate of birth, or if this is not obtainable, a declaration made before a magistrate by one of her parents or former guardians, giving the date of her birth. (b) Certificate of training (original to be produced when appearing before the .SubCommittee of the Advisory Board). (c) Medical certificate. (d) Dental certificate. It is required that the candidate should have been vaccinated within the last two years and also inoculated against typhoid (A. and B.). C. TERMS OF APPOINTMENT. Forms of Agreement will be signed by candidates who are willing to serve : — (a) So long as required during the present emergency, or (b) for a period of twelve calendar months. D. PAY AND ALLOWANCES.

•And charge pay. When quarters, board, fuel and light are not provided, a stated allowance is made. A gratuity of £20 per annum is allowed to Sisters and Staff -Nurses who sign Agreement for serving as long as required during the present emergency. (The gratuity appears to be really an allowance for uniform.)

E. HONORARY RANK. Honorary rank in the Royal Air Force will be granted as'follows : — Matrons-in-Chief Major. Matrons Captains. Superintending Sisters Captains. Sisters Lieutenants Staff -Nurses 2nd Lieutenants

N.Z. Army Nursing Service. — Pay. Atnnitnf of p flV Travelling Rank. ™ J Si2», y Allowance pel mem. {m p iem> Matron-in-Chief 10 0 15 0 Matron 13 0 15 0 Charge Sister 11 0 12 6 Sister 10 0 12 6 Staff-Nurse 7 10 12 6 Masseuse According to rank.

Initial Rate Annual Increment Maximum Washing Uniform £ 75* £ 10 £ 150 Matrons Superin tending Sisters Sisters Staff Nurses 60* 50 40 5 5 2/10/--75 60 45 ) 3/6 I per : week £8 per annum j