VOLUNTEER NURSING SISTERHOOD

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2514, 15 July 1915, Page 3

VOLUNTEER NURSING SISTERHOOD

(Contributed by the Secretary.) ' Now that the scheme of the Volunteer.Nursing' Sisterhood has been' properly- explained ;it is., regarded generally with the'greatest' approval officially, and the secretary feels quite 'certain that satisfactory arrangements will bo completed very shortly, between the Department of Health, and tho .Volunteer Sisterhood.' It has also been .taken up. with tlio greatest enthusiasm by tho registered trained nurses. ; . What. the Sisterhood suggests is that all -its', members, in addition to signing tho pledge' already, published, and furuishing references .-as"/.to mental and moral stability/and character, should be given at least , oiie month's trial in the New Zealand military camps, and that only those women who have, distinguished themselves in such work should bo chosen to go abroad. Even then* there is not, and there never .has been, any intention to send: untrained women abroad. The women who-'are enrolling with us may not all bo registered nurses, but they are all women who have had some nursing experience, or who are'generally so eminently suitable,' mentally and .physically to stand the strain of hard'and often menial work, "that to exclude theni would bo monstrously- unjust. ■ What, the Sister hood suggests >'is to put one .trained nurse in. charge of a_group of ten picked memters: of tho Sisterhood, but such ten'will include hospital nurses, registered maternity nurses, uncertificated general nurses of, perhaps fifteen years'. experience,: and in . addition ■strong, serviceable women. .willing to .do all sorts of washing, charing, sewing, and anything else required. The women who are offering to do this work are:some of the best and finest specimens of womenhood tho world has over seen. /■:;"> ! " Lato yesterday afternoon the secretary -made, inquiries as . to: the general opinion'of the volunteers' work -at the Trentham Hospital. . .Nothing but tlio highest 'approval was expressed on: all sides.. . The, volunteer's have revolutionised the general appearance of somo parts *of the hospital. The volunteers have enabled the services of the trained nurses and staff sisters.to.b.e used to 'tho highest advantage. - .