SHORTAGE OF NURSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 69, 14 December 1937, Page 10

SHORTAGE OF NURSES

Suggested Amendment of Training H.B. BOARD'S PROPOSAL In view of a' general shortage of trained nurses for hospital work in New Zealand, the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board, at yesterday's meeting, decided to take steps to see if the Nurses' and Midwives' Registration Board could be prevailed upon to rescind their rule which requires a nurse, at the end of her hospital training, to do six months' special midwifery training before she is properly qualified. Dr. H. M. Wilson, who introduced the subject, claimed that, in many cases, this was simply a waste Of time. and certainly was one of the causes of the shortage, because it meant that there was always a number of nurses qualified for hospital work who wero out of circulation. Dr. J, J. Foley, medical superinten-de-nt, agreed with Dr. Wilson. He said that the midwifery training cut in cn the general work just at the time when tho nurses had beeomo really useful. Dr. Wilson moved that a letter be sent to the Director=General of Health asking if he could persuade the Nurses' and Midwives' Registration Board to rescind the rule. Mr H. V. Hoadley, in seconding the motion, suggested that the DirectorGeneral, if he agreed with the suggestion. be asked to endeavour to enlist the. support of Wellington. Auckland and Christchurch, Mr C. O. Morse suggested that the Hospital Boards Association should also be aslced for its support. Dr, Wilson amended his motion to embody these suggestions, and it was then carried. The Rev. R, B- Gosnell said that next week there would be girls leaving school, and he suggested that, if they could be made "nurse-conscious. " it might help to alleviate the shortage. The chairman, Mr C. Lassen, informed him that action along these lines was being taken.