THE UNTRAINED NURSE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 203, 21 May 1908, Page 5

THE UNTRAINED NURSE.

It is generally believed that since nurses' registration has come to pass only certificated- and registered nurses aro allowed , to practise in Now; Zealand. ■ 'There' is no law to provent unqualified, women from ' calling themselves nurses, or from wearing nurses outdoors-uniform,' -or doing private nursing. ,'This.' is often a serious matter, occasionally ■ caiisim; much trouble to the patient and doctor, through : tho ■ inexperience and. unskilfillness ,of the unqualified nurse. Surely it is as, important to have a qualified nurse in a private'house as in a private-hospital.. The patient roouires thi same skill and caro at homo as' in hosoital. .

It takes three years of work, and study to qualify a nurso for her profession, and yet there'aro women ,>vho liave .never spent a day: iii •, training who ; arc; ■ undertaking a nurses', duties. . Even though they do their host, .they cannot, understand the many sighs and symptoms' of.diseases, and their complications, through''their f.lack of knowledge, and .this, has- sometimes caused, th'o loss of' the patient.: .One can never, be too carefulin engaging, .a' nurse. 'If a ,nurse is ''registered she. wears a badge thafc.' shows'she is 'aiid ; 0110. should 'al-.vays' inquire if the riurse. : is ' trained and certificated, and, if not,-tho .doctqivshould be, told of the fact. The .'untrained'nurse[ aslcs? the. same fee as the qualified nurse, which is very' unfair to tho -patient,•['who is. not receiving the samo skilful that the qualified nurse, can give.'. ..This; v is;.'.not written", to 1 prevent; tho untrained nurso from 1 private work, 'but it is ; right: .'that- the doctor , and patient should be 'aware:' of ; the' qualification .of the ' nurso thoyj. engage. and in some' cases'the nurso does.'riot let. the doctor ltnow' she is'untrained. \ ' . ' There are not- sufficient , qualified nurses to meet the demand oii all occasions; so this untrained mirse is: frequently needed, but sho should ridt' work/under falso'.pretences, or demand the same.;fee, as tho. qualified nurse.