APPOINTMENT OF NURSES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 139, 7 December 1911, Page 6

APPOINTMENT OF NURSES.

The present method which the New Plymouth Hospital Board adopt in appointing nurses was the subject of considerable discussion at the Board meeting yesterday. At present the Board has a list on which the names of all suitable applicants are placed, and appointments are made by the Hospital Superintendent and matron from the list, not necessarily in rotation. At the previous meeting Mr. MePeynohls tabled a notice of motion to effect an alteration. The motion, which was as follows, was discussed at yesterday's meeting:—''That a committee be set up to revise the nurses' probationary list or roll; that the names of eligible persons only remain on the roll, or be in future put on the roll; that persons (young women) be considered eligible who are over the age of 21 years and not over the age of 30 years who hold or present a doctor's certificate for good health, etc.; that they be recommended by a member of this Board or by some person known to a member of the Board, who will testify to the probity of such person; that the names of all applicants be taken in rotation to fill vacancies, preference being given only to applicants living in the Taranaki hospital district." Mr. Macßevnolds said that the cardinal point was that all applicants after being placed on the roll should be appointed to vacancies in rotation. In I the notice of motion he had given particulars of what he considered should constitute eligibility. He was prepared, however to be guided by the other members in the matter.

Mr. Maxwell considered that some such resolution was necessary and just. There was no possible advantage in a list at at present, because there were many on it who had no chance of getting an appointment, as experience showed that when an opportunity occurred, some at the top of the list were passed over, without any apparent warrant, and someone away down the list was given the appointment. Of course, the matron should have a say in the appointments, but he considered that the unsuitable ones should be taken off the list, and only those absolutely suitable should be kept on, and the appointments be then made in rotation, unless something unforeseen occurred. He was not saying anything against the suitability of the present appointments, but under the present system only those whose qualifications were known to some mem- ] ber of the staff had a chance, whereas ] others with equal qualifications but unknown were passed over. The system may have worked out satisfactorily to the institution, but in justice to the applicants, who were perhaps kept waiting for months, the system should be altered. The cardinal point, however, was rotation. The chairman said that at last meeting reference had been made to one young lady who had been passed over. The acting medical superintendent pointed out that she was only HI years of age. and that 1!) or 20 was too young for a girl to start training for a nurse. The secretary said that the regulations on the application form limited the age from 21 to 30 years, and that the particular applicant should not have been put on. Mr. Macßevnolds remarked that as this fact was only discovered after ten months it proved that the lists should be scrutinised.

The chairman suggested that the matter should be held over for a month. It was rather a "ticklish" question. Tt would never do for the Board to appoint a person to the nursing staff who was antagonistic to the institution or who would come into conflict with the staff or doctors. On the hospital staff friendly relations were a necessity. Mr. Macßeynolds pointed out that the three months' probationership, should obviate this. Mr. Maxwell said that the point was that they had a long list. Five might be equally suitable, but if one were known that one would he appointed, and the others would have no chance. Mr. Macßeyonlds said that the question was whether the Board should appoint the probationers or leave it entirely to the doctor and matron. If the latter wore the case let it be generally known and not go through the farce of putting the names on the probationers' lists and allowing the applicants to wait for months. He knew of cases in which young ladies bad refused opportunities' of learning the nursing profession in Haw-era and Wanganui and preferring to wait a chance of getting on in New Plymouth, so high a reputation did this hospital possess. Mr. Bcllringer said some applicants applied to be put on the lists of several boards and when appointed did not advise the other boards. On several occasions no less than three had refused appointment. They must have a roll for the purposes of selection. Mr. McAllum considered that the medical superintendent and matron were responsible for the working of the hospital and should have a say in the choice of the material. The. chairman said that nursing required special qualification, of which the medical staff was the best judge. Mr. Brown said there was no doubt that the opinion prevailed that there was favoritism. Mr. Macßeynolds quite agreed to the doctor and matron having a say regarding the qualifications of the candidate, but this could be done, before they were enrolled quite as well as after. Once on the roll the appointments should be made in rotation. Mr. Maxwell thoroughly agreed with this. Mr. McDonald moved that the matter be deferred till next meeting, but the motion was lost. The clauses in the motion were then dealt with: in seriatim. The first and second were passed intact; to the third was added the words "and have passed the Sixth Standard"; lo the fourth was added, "whose names shall be submitted for approval to the medical superintendent." The last clause, that the names of all applicants be taken in rotation to fill vacancies, preference being given only to applicants living in the Taranaki district, was deleted. Mr. Macßeynolds remarked that with that clause out practically the whole motion was deleted.