NURSING PROFESSION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 57, 1 April 1946, Page 6

NURSING PROFESSION

WHAKATANE TRAINING SCHOOL

POSITION NOT ENCOURAGING The departure of two successive Tutor Sisters from the Whakatane Hospital, coupled with the comparatively poor response to the classes which have been instituted from time to time has not drawn a very encouraging picture for the Board to contemplate in the light of future development.

The matter was discussed at the last meeting of the Board when Sister M. O’Dea’s resignation was accepted with regret and the Board was faced with the prospect of securing the services of another Tutor Sister to take her place. The chairmarl (Mr J. Mullins) said that he had personally interviewed the Sister and learnt that whilst she regarded the general running of the hospital as satisfactory, the question of the training classes was one which was something of a problem in that they could not be held regularly and the attendance was poor. It was felt by Sister O’Dea that under the circumstances she was wasting her time in that direction. The secretary - (Mr F. Prideaux) stated that until such time as an A grade training school were established whereby trainees could complete their entire training, there would always be difficulties. At the present time however this was impossible as the institution was still some 30 rooms short of the required number for a. standardised institution.

Responding to Mr Caulfield’s question as to how long it was likely to be before the Tutorial Block could be utilised as it was intended, the chairman said that it was extremely hard to say as in common with most other hospitals the Whakatane institution as far as staff was concerned was in a state of flux with nurses coming and going. Steps of course had been taken to contact the Department and he had been assured that every possible effort would be made to make a further appointment.

Mr Suckling: Not until the profession is made more attractive can we hope for better success with the training centre.

Mr McGougan- suggested that it was a problem which the chairman and the Medical Superintendent should go fully into for the purpose of making a recommendation for suitable policy or action by .the Board.

The matter was then dropped,