SIR,—Reading Dr. Somerville Hastings' article on The Nursing Crisis I
was struck by the understanding with which the situation was viewed. According to Dr. Hastings the main problem is to recruit more nurses. Surely a great deal cculd be done with the 40 cr 50 per cent. who never finish training. Why do they leave? During the last two years as a State Registered nurse I have seen many girls commence training, and throw it up before the beginning of their third year. The smaller percentage are those who leave during their second year to marry and start homes. The majority are those leaving in their probationary year, and may be divided into two groups. Some have had their enthusiasm damped, and finally their spirits broken, by ward sisters of the old school, who seem determined to push modern girls into the narrow mould they themselves were compressed into twenty or thirty years ago. But these are not all. Many commence training with an enthusiasm and ardour not so easily quenched. They survive the rigours of a pro's life, only to leave when that year is up, disgusted by the lack of consideration shown not to themselves but to newly qualified nurses. They will not slave for four or five years, to be paid (as I am) less than the impudent pantry-maid who throws down the meals to them at table. They are not going to toil and study to be treated as doormats and with complete lack of consideration by those in authority.
These first-year nurses say, " I wouldn't stand for it. Go on strike." They are blind to the fact that in those five years the trained nurse has learnt a duty to her patients, which will not let her go on strike and neglect them, no matter how much she feels it will influence those in authority towards improving her status. I have said nothing of domestic- staff shortage, in many places even more acute than the shortage of nursing staff, and adding immeasurably to the burden of the nurses. Pages could be written on the reasons why nurses leave during their training : why State Registered Nurses, sickened during five years' hard work, at the end of that time make haste to shake the dust of hospitals off their feet, and turn to private nursing, where they receive more pay and can claim a higher status.—Yours faithfully,
ELIZARETli F. TEMPLE.
Previous page
