Extract from a Letter from a N.Z. Nurse in South Africa

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XXII, Issue 3, 1 July 1929, Page 132

Extract from a Letter from a N.Z. Nurse in South Africa

"By the way, the Union Registration authorities have just decided to refuse registration to any more New Zealand or Australian nurses until reciprocity is arranged, so you might let it be known that it is no use for any more* girls to come over at present. They can't get anything without registering, and if New Zealand is wise the}' won't grant reciprocity until things here are very much improved. The standard of training is appalling, particularly m some places. They all allow private hospitals as training schools, and of course it is hopeless. There is a "sanatorium" m , run by nurses, where every patient who is really ill has two specials, and the probationers, of course,

have nothing to do m such a case, so what experience can they get, and yet it is a training school !

NOTE. — Nurses from New Zealand have so far done well m South Africa, but this warning should be noted, as the decision re reciprocity will make much difference. The policy of the New Zealand Nurses' and Midwives' Registration Board being entirely opposed to the recognition of private hospitals as training schools, it will not be possible to grant full reciprocity to South African nurses.

Now that under the Medical Dental and Pharmacy Act of South Africa two nurses, representatives of the Training Nursed Association, are included m the Council, matters m connection with the training of nurses will no doubt improve.

The British General Nursing Councils do not recognise private hospitals as training schools.