TRAINED NURSES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 30, 25 July 1891, Page 208

TRAINED NURSES.

So many women have of late succeeded as trained nurses, that each year more attention is directed to the subject of nursing as a profession for women. The question is constantly asked * How can I become a trained nurse ?’ To answer it and to afford information that will be interesting to those who wish to take up the work is the purpose of this paper. In a young country like New Zealand, there are not, of course, the same openings for instruction in the womanly art of nursing as there are in England. Still, as much help as possible is now being given by the larger hospitals to those women who are dqfirous of becoming trained nurses. This is work that is specially suited to ladies. At one of our hospitals nearly all the nurses are gentlewomen, and the lady superintendent expresses herself as well satisfied with their attention to rules, deftness, and common sense. There is not, as far as I am aware, any nurses’ trainingschool in New Zealand except in connection with a hospital. At Wellington Hospital each nurse is engaged as a probationer. Lectures (1) on Elementary, Anatomy and Physiology and (2) on nursing are given annually by the resident medical officer of the institution, and examinations are held, and if the candidates come up to a certain standard, certificates of efficiency are issued. The examinations on nursing are both theoretical and practical. Besides this the course of practical training consists of two years’ work in the wards. They have a similar training at the Dunedin Hospital, and I believe also at Christchurch. A doctor comments on the above :

* I think the best method of training nurses is such as is here sketched. It would be well if the course of training in the four large hospitals of the colony should be assimilated in detail, if this is not already the case. At the same time, I should be in favour of keeping them distinct schools, in order that a healthy rivalry should be fostered. In the smaller hospitals there is not a sufficient vaiiety of cases to warrant them undertaking the training and certification of nurses. ’

It has been suggested that examinations of ladies wishing —after proper training—to obtain a certificate of competency in any particular branch of nursing, or in general nursing, should be held either annually or semi-annually, at four different centres, say, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland, the questions to be set by the Visiting Staff’ or House-Surgeon at each of these four

centres in turn, printed, and sent to the other three hospitals. A certain number of maiks should entitle each of the examined to a nurse’s certificate, which would enable the holder to at once obtain employment as a private nurse, or at a hospita!, should there be an opening. The certificates would, of course, be recognised throughout the colony. The regulations for the training of probationeis in the practice of hospital nursing at the Auckland Hospital are as follows :

1. The term of the probationers’ training shall be one year (if after the first month found suitable), and they will be received on the distinct understanding that they are willing to remain for that length o' time. Provided that any probationer shall be at liberty to resign at any time during the first month, on giving fourteen days’ notice of such intention. 2. Probationers will be under the control of the lady superintendent of tile hospital, and will be subject to the rules of the hospital. They will be subject to suspension from d uty, or to be discharged by the lady superintendent, in case of misconduct or negligence of their duties. 3. Every probationer will be required, at the end of one month from the date of entry into the hospital, if found suitable for engagement, to sign an agreement, engaging to abide by the regulations.

4. Probationers must have attained the age of twenty-one years, and must be not more than thirty five years of age, at date of entry. They must bo of excellent character, and be in perfect health.

5. j’robationers will be required to give their services for one year in return for the training received by them in the hospital. They will be required to undertake day and night duty, and to do the same work as the assistant-nurses. Hoard, lodging, and washing will be provided for them in the hospital. 6. Probationers will be taught the practical part of nursing, in the wards and the operation room. They will receive theoretical instruction from the resident medical officers, in elementary anatomy, physiology, minor surgery, and the properties and uses of common drugs. They will receive theoretical and practical instruction from the lady superintendent, in medical, surgical, and fever nursing, bandaging, in valid cookery, and in all duties relating to lite care of the sick.

7. At the end of each year, an examination in the subjects named will be hold by examiners appointed by the Board. Probationers, who pass successfully, will receive a certiffcate to that etfoct, signed by the examiners, and by the Board : but in no case shall a probationer receive a certiffcate unless she shall have undergone a full year's training. 8. Probationers shall be eligible at any time for appointment to the permanent nursing staff, but shall not bo entitled to receive a certiffcate eucept enter the conditions named in Regulation 7.

Probationers undergoing a second year's training receive £2O per annum, but they ean only be received into this class when there is a vacancy.

There is also a capital Auckland Directory for Nurses, under control of a committee of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Medical Association. The energetic secretary is Dr. Robertson, of Symonds-street, to whom nurses should apply in order to have their names put on the Directory Register. Each nurse pays a registration fee of five shillings for the first year, and half-a-crown for the second, etc., and any person engaging a nurse by means of the Directory pays a fee of two shillings and sixpence. Between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 am., it is five shillings. A useful check is exercised upon the nurse by a special form being provided for the doctor, and one for the invalid to fill in, stating, in answer to various questions, how the nurse behaves, and her efficiency. This is forwarded to the secretary. As all nurses have to keep the secretary wellinformed as to their engagements, place of abode,and easiest mode of access thereto, it will be at once seen what an immense lienefit such a directory is to all classes of the community, as frequently valuable time is lost in sudden sickness through having to search in various localities for a possibly disengaged nurse. The Auckland Hospital limits the age of entry for a probationer to twenty-one. This is still too young. Twentythree or twenty-five is far better, for a girl has to face various unpleasantnesses in the work of nursing which will require all a grown woman’s nerve and strength to meet without flinching. But nursing is noble, Christ-like work, and gives special opportunities for developing some of the grandest traits in a true woman’s nature, only it is not a profession to be lightly chosen, nor one to be adopted without first counting the cost. .Nursing children is specially interesting, though it requires a good deal of patience, but the reward for tending the helpless, suffering little ones is undoubtedly very great.