RECRUITS FOR NURSING Sta,—Re Miss Denton's letter 'Recruits for Nursing.'
I am an assistant male nurse and the first part of the letter amused me. Mind you, I never gave it a thought that my nursing experience would stand me in good stead if, and when, I get married. It's a valid point; I can help keep house while my wife is out working. She (whoever she will be, poor dear) will have to go out to work, for on my salary I wouldn't be able to afford her or the mythical children of such a mythical union.
Why doesn't Miss Denton mention the miserable, low salary which is the great deterrent to trainees these days? There are many, like myself, who came to nursing late in life and would willingly go for training but for this fact. If we were seconded it would not be so bad. As it is we are the backlash of nursing.
It's a wrong premise to attract girls into nursing with a view to marriage. How many years of nursing_ will they give? Why not make salaries more attract- ive and concentrate on campaigning for men to enter nursing; and we'd fill the serious gap in geriatric nursing. At least, we'd be less likely to leave the profession on the occasion of our marriage.
Meanwhile, the educational television set mis- informs the public as Emergency—Ward 10 rides again! Oh Gawd!
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