OUR DEBT TO THE RED CROSS NURSE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 102, 23 January 1918, Page 2

OUR DEBT TO THE RED CROSS NURSE

SUGGESTION FOR ITS PAYMENT. In order to show tho nation's gratitude to British nurses, the British Women's Hospital Committee is appealing for money to form an endowment fund for the College of Nursing, states the "Daily Mail." ' The nursing profession is the only skilled profession which up to the present time has been without organisation. The need for such organisation is so apparent that Sir Arthur Stanley, chairman of tho British Red Cross Society, conceived the idea of establishing a collego for iiursing which should stand in tho samo relation to the profession 'of- nursing n,s tho Colleges of Physicians mid Surgeons have stood to tho professions of medicine and surgery.

"There have been a whole lot of little societies for skilled nurses," Sir Arthur Stanley said recently, "but while some have Hone good work, others are practically moribund. Most of them in their effort to obtain State registration have gone to Parliament to set up the machinery and then have awaited events. Now we of the ■College of' Nursing are setting up our machinery first, and shall then go to • Parliament and say, 'Will you give statutory sanction to our register ?'

"The Collego of Nursing, as set up, has a- representative council of 20"members of the nursing profession, 10 doctors and 3 laymen, including myself as chairman. We have gone on quietly during the last, ypar forming our register, on which there are now nearly 8000 trained nurses. Now we have our great opportunity to pub the collego on a- sound foundation in all respects, and wo shall never be in a stronger position than'at present"We feel also that now is the time when the large body of semi-trained nurses, V.A.D.'s, and others should be in a position to continue their nursing training on beneficial terras, and our endeavour will be to organise the acceptance of the V.A.D.'s by the College of Nursing. In the interest of the public as well as the nurses it is essential that a high standard of efficiency sbould be laid down and that what constitutes a trained nurse should bo clearly dofined and established. The College of Nursing will do this.

"But we must have money now. and the British Women's Hospital Committee, who so splendidly organised the Star and Garter-Fund, have said that thoy will help. We require an endowment fund, also money to provide a suitable- building in London where the college may have its headquarters, where there may be examination,, lecture, and club rooms, where nurses may meet. We shall also bono for a benefit fund for assisting sick nurses and those who have grown old and weary in their services for humanity. We owe so much to our nurses, especially during tho .war, that I have no doubt of the spirit of thankfulness whioh will prompt a ready response to the appeal."

Mr. and Mrs. M'Hardy (Ashhurst) are visiting Napier.