TRAINING OF NURSES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1930, Page 5

TRAINING OF NURSES

PROVISIONS OF NEW BILL.

WELLINGTON, July 1

Private hospitals will be authorised to become training schools for nurses if the Nurses apd Midwives Registration Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives:*lto-day by the Minister for Health (the Hon A. J. Stallworthy) is passed. Until the Bill is circulated iudtlie' House the precise nature of-Us contents' will not be known, tit -is believed,-however, that specific provisions have been incorporated fto meet the objections that have been raised, particularly by the Trained Nurses’ Association. These provisions it is understood, will be in the direction of maintaining as at present, the standard and scope of training, the State examinations, and the registration of nurses. It is also said that the reciprocal position as between the Mother Country and the Dominion will be secured beyond any possibility of doubt. It is uiuierstod that although the statutory position both 'in the United Kingdom and in New Zealand leaves no reasonable doubt- about the reciprocity being prejudicially affected, the terms of the amending Bill will put this issue beyond dispute. It is believed that a minimum of 50 occupied beds will be prescribed in the case of any private institution asKing that it be considered competent for approval as a training school. If that is so the prescribed minimum will mean that any private institution which secures approval as a training institution will; in accommodation, be superior to at least 15 of the present public hospitals approved as limited or complete training schools. In the controversy which has raged on the question it has been made clear thate the private institutions which contemplate making application to the Nurses and Midwives Registration Board for approval as training schools are prepared to meet any requirement that might be imposed by that statutory authority.*

It i.s probable that further expenditure ranging from £30,000 to £BO,OOO will be required to qualify even the foremost of private institutions for approval as training schools.

It is further understood that the amending Bill does not in any way propose to alter the constitution of the Nurses anil Midwives Registration Board, which is the competent authority for all Junctions in connection with the nursing profession, nor will the Bill per se constitute approval of any private institution as a training school. In fact all the Bill is expected to accomplish in that respect is the removal of the present statutory disability in the way of any private institution however efficient from being considered on its merits as a training school. The approval or otherwise, and all other functions appertaining i,o the training examination, and registration ot purses will remain ill l the Registration Board, on which'the nursing profession has three representatives, namely, the head of the nursing division, and two nominees'of the Trained Nurses’ Association,