OUT-OF-WORK NURSES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 20, 18 October 1919, Page 7

OUT-OF-WORK NURSES

.1200 W.IK-'WOIiX WOMEN. 1 " Few people appear to realise that-the women who have done the, most ill Hie war, who were .-the. earliest' to bo .mobilised, who have, many of thenij 113' long terms of service as the soldier with the finest array of chevrons, .are likely to suffer more than any others, writes a correspondent in tlio LoncCon "Times.". There are. about 12-00 nurses uut of work; their number increases daily as more and more return from tho fronts. These represent the nanus on the. books of the Nurses' Kesettlement Committee, 1C Curzon Street. Some, of them' have been out of • work ' since. January, andthey art it little afraid of i/he. future. They have come back war-worn and very, tired; at. no .time have they, been well paid and at most-times they. haye!'been overworked. Their gratuity lias often taken six months to materialise, and the <£10 that is advanced to them on disembarkation does not, even, with the most careful treatment, last long when new civilian clothes have to be; bought and food and lodgings obtained. 'The situation is-serious. Those women want work. The hospitals cannot ateorb ill em all, they are reducing the war establishments, and few of these women can stand by and wait for- private'practice, with Harl?y'' Street. anil Winipole Street not yet idiaken down to a peace plane. ■ ,

Nurses are essfsntially adaptable and litletl for many different• kinds of work, and their initiative has been developed by working in casualty clearing, stations and hospital ships,• where initiative is needed. They, are asking for modest kinds of work—such as they could . do 'admirably'and unobtrusively; they .want work, as superintendents of hostels! matrons of 'convalescent homes, stewardesses on board ships, sister-tutorships in hospitals, sisters in charge of 'fiut-pa-■ticnts' hospitals in colliery districts, 'matrons of boys' and girls' schools, sisters in general hospitals, work in oversea hospitals, 1 where a C.M.I!. certificate .is not necessary, and positions in. nursery schools; required under the new 'Education-. Act. .

In boys' and girls' schools a matron who was a fully traineil- nurse would give. parents a feeling of safely in epidemics, and would add to the. prestigo of the school, Junior posts in hospitals are not sought, as they have in most cases a long experience. In many ways they could be of use. to doctors in their- practice. Anyone' who* can help tlio demobilised nurses should deem it a, privilege In do- so. They gave of llitfir .best, of their. health and their strength,''of their tact and fheir sympathy, right through the war; and they had less pay .anil less leave than the laler ! women service. Now, when things rue iimeler;' instead of a' gnawing . anxiety as to their future, I hey sliuiild bn given the best openings available for the biot women. • ,

The Nurses' liesettlement Committee .has.done work since it wits started in Deceinbsr, 1!)18; it has' placed 1300 nurses satisfactorily, but its future work depends on the good will of those' who have work to give.