THE CHILD'S NURSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1652, 20 January 1913, Page 2

THE CHILD'S NURSE.

Recent years have brought about many changes in connection with women's work, but perhaps in no direction is the change so strongly marked as in. the position held by the children's nurse.' -■'>/ -In former years, the position was one of a purely domestic hature—often involving much dreary drudgery—for which any untfained and uneducated girl was. considered suitable. . We have ■ changed-- all that.

. ■ People havo been brought to realiso that i nui3i> has an'enormous influence in the formation of. a child's character—realised the urgent neo&sity for, having refined, properly trained jand equipped women lor holding such positions. : The duties of the position have changed altogether to what they werfi even ten years ago; The w6rk has, indeed, been elevated from more or less drudgery into a pleasant profession. . ■ . - '. Possibly the most noteworthy alteration of duties isiin connection with'domestic work. 1 The child's nurso used to have to do a lot of real hard household work; now she is expected to do very little —only such as'is purely consistent with tho position, But whole eomo duties of tho nurso have, been abolished, others have been added—. others, it must bo admitted, of a much more interesting character. It may bo said that the keynote of tho .position lies in the'fact that whereas in former days the child's nurso was purely nurse,:to-day. sho is governess as well. : - -.' ;:., - It must be -understood that there is no-, thing-"menial", about,,the, work—for girls who liso that word in coflnection with any work. The nurse holds an Important place in the world—does- work .quito; as high, and noblo fts tho hospital nurse, though' she labours in ia'dlffereht sphere. 1 '. , : The great essential, is for. every girl adopting such a career to'hive a big lovo for children—to be able to enter into their feelings, to sympathise with ,their sorrows and joys. A child's nurso must not be a cynic. She must know, tho importance of littlo things to childrcn-mufet know ,that the molehills of "grown-ups" are'' the mountains of boys and gicle. To-dny tho child's nursft must be a comrade and companion as will as mentor to her,charges, but the latter role must never bo - overemphasised. '