THE DRIFT OF NURSES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1989, 20 February 1914, Page 9

THE DRIFT OF NURSES.

FROM THE HOSPITAL,

NEW PROPOSALS FOR SENIORS.

The frequency with which : trained iarses ■ leave the Hospital was ' meniioned at the'meeting of the Hospital and Charitable. Aid Board- yesterday bj Dr. Mackenzie 'An inquiry, he felt, should bo ; made ir.to the reason Why sucli a number of fourth-year nurses weni T T ■ t 'j e J H©spital. Ho thbughl that the board did not do enough for th< old nurses,, m the way of e'neouraginn them to ; 'stay. While he did not oppose having a training school at the Hospital, he novertholeKs thought thai the Hospital should have,a staff which ■was fully qualified 'to do the work.Theßev.W..,A./iEvans: As far as 1 can see therp lias been no disposition on the part of the nurses to leave. Dr. Hardwick Smith referred to a resignation-before Hho board, and added that had the nurse, in question been offered an increase of £20 she would have ■'Stayed/.-' ; Dealing with the training-of fourthyear nurses,' the medical superintendent put forward a number of suggestions in the form, 0f,,» report as follows:— ;■■■■' "Nurses who- have passed the,.-" Stat© final examination at the end ; of their 'third year's' training "are still required by the Hospital Board to remain a further year before they receivo the- Hospital certificate • of efficiency. Thomatron has discussed with' mo methods by which the fourth year's' work can_ be made - more attractive to the seniornurses, and-the conclusion arrived at is that theso'nuraes should be taiight'sub- ' Jeots .which are not generally included'in the curriculum of a nurse's training. /The following subjects -are worthy 'of your and should, v in .our opinion, be taught'to the senior nurses.:—•■'■.-' "1. Midwifery Training-—A pre-; Bent-day nurse who wishes to be proficient in -her.' work feels' that Bhe ' ■■ must qualify 'in -midwifery.' The Hospital' Board realised that when ' they made provision some- timo ago fora srriall maternity ward. I sug-.-gest that the board, make provision in the Coming year, for a maternity - ward." "-'';?■'.,'.-' ''".'.; -.'■ ;'' '.' ■ "2. A course of massage and medical; gymnastics. By this Ido not-. suggestthat thenurse" be taught 'to compete, with' those wlio practise the' profession\pf.ma'ssage. But .that' she be given: a general knowledge r>ther than; an.expert one. :. ~: . '...',.. "3'. .A'short course in the X-ray and electrical department ;'lhis course would be very interesting and instructivei: At present few nurses have the opportunity of. doing this work, a .work, which , is becoming more important'every day.' ."4." That'the- senior nurses_ he ,- taught/hospital domestic •.manage-;; meut.''^, _ _.''■; The .chairman explained that bj Adopting; the report -they did not hint themselves down to carry out' the suggestions."j 7They- could, see if anything could j)RJ done alonci these, lines, and any • further proposals would, of, course Come before the board: '.' The report ,was, adopted.. : ....;. ...