TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR NURSES ADOPTED

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28266, 2 May 1957, Page 16

TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR NURSES ADOPTED

The proposed new nurses’ training curriculum was adopted by the North Canterbury Hospital Board at a

special meeting yesterday. It was adopted “as outlined in the Lady Superintendent’s report,” on the motion of Mr L. Christie, and over the objection of Miss M. B. Howard, M.P., “that the board had not been asked for its views and not, in fact, even seen a copy of the curriculum.” “It can be said that we do not know that we shall retain more nurses’, or attract more girls into the profession, until we have tried the new curriculum,” said the Lady Superintendent (Mrs M. Chambers) in a report to the board. “This of course is true, but let us try it. From an educational point of view the new scheme will be a better basic course, and for that reason alone, should be given a trial.” The chairman (Dr. L. C. L. Averill), spoke in support of Mrs Chambers’s views, and a report by a sub-committee which discussed the proposed curriculum recommended that emphasis be given to that paragraph in her report. Reply to Association The board also resolved to reply to a questionnaire from the Hospital Boards’ Association seeking its views on the proposed curriculum, in the terms of a report brought down by the sub-commit-tee, and to forward with it a copy of Mrs Chambers’s report. Mr Christie said when the meeting opened, that although the matter had been befofe the board for nearly 12 months there was no minute on its books to show whether or not the proposed curriculum was supported. He then moved that the board adopt the curriculum as outlined by Mrs Chambers. Much of the curriculum did not apply to the board, said Miss Howard. It was a thing complete and the board could not adopt it in toto. It was likely to be changed after the views of hospital boards were heard—as requested in the questionnaire sent out by the Hospital Boards’ Association. “Not Asked for Views” The board was not asked to give its views on the preposed curriculum, she said. “We need notify no-one and only answer the questions from the association.” She moved, as an amendment, that the board reply' to the questionnaire in the terms of the subcommittee’s report. Mrs R. M. Macfarlane said that she, and possibly others, could agree to both the motion and the amendment. There should be two motions. She was supported in this by Mr Christie. After further discussion Miss Howard’s amendment was put and lost, on the voices, and the motion

to adopt the proposed curriculum was approved. Mr Christie later moved that the board reply to the questionnaire in the terms of the sub-commit-tee’s report and forward with it a copy of Mrs Chambers’s report. This motion was adopted.