RE NURSES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 250, 16 July 1919, Page 8

RE NURSES

Sir.—l see the l'aihapo Hospital is advertising for a trained, nurse at v£B4 per annum. I wonder what they pay their ward maids? What is going to happen to the profession of trained nurses ? As a community they are educated and refined women, but we ore not all able to work for love, and that is where , the trouble oomes in. -The fixed sum of .£3 3s. is, I believe,- all a fully-trained private nurse may claim. When she has paid board and lodging, laundry, clothing, and all the hundred and one expenses of daily Uife, what balance can sjie have left towards the time, when she can work no more? Then, again, there (ire very few women who have not someone to help or,.support; even old maids! What other branch of the working public. from casual labourers to governors of the land, have not been granted excess income', owing to the frantic increase of price of everything, not by any means , -food alone? 1 think you will find the uursing profession stands alone. Fit subjects to be held down, under paid, and not thought about save when illness brings their existence to memory. It is then a case of nurse for ever—till her bill comes in. I don't think inhere patients recover, even from the most boneless cases, that a nurse's fee is paid with good will, but simply that non-pay-nient may moan gossip. This is the ease. 1 reckon, after sixteen years' worldwide experience, in every six cases out of ten. Another thing is-the hours. In private nursing they are anything from twelve to twentyfour! Is there any reason why nurses should not form a union, and Ptand out for the eight-hour day for a six-dav week, and leave loving friends, V.A.D.'s. actresses, or spare princesses to fill the spare time? Such abounded during the war; and nurses, trained, experienced nurses, ■ were turned down, and their living taken from them by such. One hears from all over the world of tho monuments, soldiers' clubs, etc., to be raised in- thanksgiving for peace. Not' a soul has stirred in gratitude to nurses who died during the war or the late epidemic. to better the outlook of their sister nurses.—l am, eto„ PKICKLEFOOT.