"KILLING THE NURSES."

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1920, Page 5

"KILLING THE NURSES."

DOMINION'S HOSPITAL SYSTEM. ''My motto is, 'lf you have a good nurse, do not kill her.' The hospitals kill their nurses—knock them to pieces. They do not look after them; tliey do not look after their nurses in the Christchurch Hospital." Briefly, that was the indictment levelled by Nurse Maude against the present conditions of employment of hospital Hurse3, in the course of a talk to members of the Christchurch Council ol' Churches.

Nurse Maude, in explaining the working of the District Nursing Association, stated that the workers were allowed one day off per week for rest. That was because she maintained that, having found a good nurse they should not kil! her. The hospitals kill their nursesknocked them to pieces—with overwork. It was .the same in England, where she had received her training. The nurses were never looked after. Members of hospital boards did not understand what nurses had to put up with. She wished that some board members would spend a full day in a ward! Then the nurses would get their day off! Perhaps the Council of Churches might do something one day in "stirring up" hospital boards in this matter. At home she had known of two nurses who spent a week's holiday in bed, simply because they were "done up." There should be one day per week quite free, in whicn case the nurses would be able to give better service, and would [ not feel cros3 and irritable with their patients. i ===