Regulation under the Nurses' and Midwives' Registration Act, 1925

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XV, Issue 2, 1 April 1926, Page 67

Regulation under the Nurses' and Midwives' Registration Act, 1925

After due consideration by the Board the regulations drawn up have now been signed by the Governor-General m Council and issued m pamphlet form. For the information of our readers we give some extracts which show changes from the system under the old Acts. . . Under the general nurses' part it is necessary for the governing body of a hospital which desires to establish a training school for nurses to apply formally for approval to the Registrar and to state the names of the persons who will constitute the teaching staff. The application will then go before the Board, which can refuse approval if it is considered that the course of instruction prescribed and the requirements m regard to training cannot be adequately complied with. The Board can also cancel its approval if the training is not satisfactory. This procedure does not differ very materially from former rules except

that it is more legal m form, and gives power to the Board, which was formerly vested only m the Registrar. The term of training is the same, but the age of registration, which during the war was altered to 21, now reverts to 23. This of course would not prevent any girl entering upon her three-year course before she attains her twentieth birthday, but means that she cannot sit for the State Examination and her name would not be placed on the Register until she is 23. The regulations for the registration of nurses, maternity nurses, or midwives trained overseas require that the applicant must possess a certificate gained after training m an institution recognised as a training school by the Government of the State m which it is situated, or by a properly constituted body exercising control over the training of nurses m that State. Proof of identity will be required and evidence of the nature of the training and ex-

perience required. Also the Board may, if the certificate is not considered sufficient to warrant registration, require the applicant to undergo such additional training m New Zealand or to pass such examination as it specifies. This m view of the different periods of training m different countries would enable applicants not up to the New Zealand standard to qualify for registration by making up any deficiency. This practice has been m vogue under the old regulations, but the Board now will have the responsibility of decision as to eligibility. A part of the regulations entirely new m regard to general trained nurses is the requirement that all nurses who desire their names to appear m the Gazette published annually must apply each year to the Registrar prior to the 31st day of March. This is to avoid having a large number^ of names of nurses not practising their profession, married or retired, on the current Gazette. The names will remain on the main Register, merely being removed m case of death and altered m case of marriage. It is desirable that nurses who marry should notify the change of name to the Registrar. Nurses still m practice should ensure by application that their names and correct addresses are on the current Register. Form No. 7 dictates the manner of the application to be addressed to the Registrar: — 7. (Full name) a (state of nurse, maternity nurse or midwife), registered under the Nurses and Midwives Registration Act, 1925, desire to have my name published m the Gazette. My place of abode (give address at which you propose to live while practising). I was registered on the day of 192 Dated at this day of 192 Signature

There are regulations regarding appeals against refusal of the Registrar to enter a name m the Register or against the removal of a name, and m such case a Board of Appeal must be set up consisting of a Magistrate and two assessors, one appointed by the Board and the other by the appellant. Included m the pamphlet are detailed instructions to maternity nurses and midwives and the conditions under which a midwife must summon medical aid. The course of training for maternity nurses is, for those who have already trained and registered as general nurses, four months. For women not qualified as general nurses the course for a maternity nurse is twelve months, and should she wish to qualify as a midwife, she may after a period of practice as a maternity nurse of twelve months, take a further course of four months' midwifery training. Registered general nurses qualifying as midwives must conduct at least 20 cases, having already during their four months' training as maternity nurses assisted at not less than 20 cases of labour and nursed not less than 20 lying-in women during the ten days following labour: Maternity nurses not registered as general nurses, must assist at not less than forty case of labour, and nurse not less than forty women. Before qualifying as a midwife she must also conduct not less than twenty casej of labour. It will be seen that under the new Act the training for midwives has been considerably extended. U?til January Ist, 1927, women not qualified by examination may register as paternity nurses on giving proof that they have for not less than twelve months been regularly engaged m practice as a maternity nurse m New Zealand. The syllabus of subjects for examination m general nursing and m midwifery are given, and the various forms 2ST ?U ?i? m USe are now aII incorporated m this pamphlet