REGISTRATION OF NURSES.
[TO THE EDITOR 07 TER "SPECTATOR."]
Sta,—May I venture to offer you a few lines on this subject, which is one of some importance to the public ? There can be no doubt whatever that people who go for their nurses to first- class hospitals which have private nursing staffs will be practically sure to get thoroughly good, well-trained nurses of the highest quality. As a member of the committees of several hospitals I can speak on this point with some confidence.
But it does not seem to be fully realized that not all hospitals have private nurses, and that an enormous number of nurses come from private agencies, which may be good or bad, and where previous training and character may not always be very carefully considered. There is no guarantee that they have ever had a proper training. It is obvious that it would be a real, solid gain to the medical profession and to the public to know that a nurse had, at some time in her life, gone through a three years' course of training at a recognized and approved hospital and obtained a certificate of good character. The knowledge and experience thus gained would never be entirely lost. Stress has been laid on the risk of subsequent deterioration in character or physical capacity. This is quite true ; but we have all those dangers now, with the added one of want of proper training. This, at any rate, registration might prevent. Very few people, probably, think of making much inquiry before engaging a nurse ; it would certainly be wiser and better if they did; but nurses are often engaged in haste, and the answer to inquiries by an agency might not always disclose any shortcomings or inefficiency. The Bills for putting registration into practice have never yet been such as could be accepted by any hospital, but it should not be impossible to arrive at some agreement.—I am, Sir, &c.,
T. D. BUTLER.
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