The Labour Party and the Nursing Profession

1927 1927 1920s 40 pages 19 A Queen's nurse must have had a certificate awarded after three years' hospital training in a recognised training school, plus a district nursing training covering a period of six months. During this latter training the nurse lives in an affiliated home...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: MacDonald, James Ramsay, 1866-1937 (contributor)
Institution:MCR - The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
Language:English
English
Published: London : The Labour Party (London : Co-operative Print. Society Ltd.) [1927]
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10796/DA95EE34-68A3-46CB-BCBE-99F269EA7D49
http://hdl.handle.net/10796/51E91AAE-92A0-41A9-8D79-81B011C5EEBB
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Summary:1927 1927 1920s 40 pages 19 A Queen's nurse must have had a certificate awarded after three years' hospital training in a recognised training school, plus a district nursing training covering a period of six months. During this latter training the nurse lives in an affiliated home under the instruction and supervision of the Home Superintendent. The Superintendent receives the nurses' reports daily, keeping a record of all cases in a book provided for the purpose and noting the number of hours each nurse is on duty daily. In addition to practical training, special courses of lectures are given on maternity and child welfare, social economics, tuberculosis, and other related subjects. There are 83 such training homes situated in London and other large towns. After her training the nurse must work in an association affliated with the Institute. Systematic inspection of district nurses is an essential factor in the work of the Institute. It is carried out by inspectors from among the Queen's nurses and the reports are communicated to the nursing associations concerned. An arrangement exists with some county medical officers of health whereby the county health superintendents also act as superintendents of the County Nursing Association and superintendents of Health Visitors. For example, in Gloucestershire, besides the County Nursing Association superintendent, eight county health superintendents inspect the work of the district nurses and give them technical assistance and advice. The local association is responsible for employing the nurse. The Institute recommends that one nurse be employed for every 9,000 inhabitants of a town and for every 3,000 inhabitants of a country district. The Institute lays down a minimum commencing salary of £63 a year, rising by £3 annually to a minimum of £75, there being no maximum. When allowance for board, lodging, laundry, and uniform is added the inclusive cost of a Queen's nurse is £180-£200 a year. No Queen's nurse will work for less, and if an association attempts to pay less it is disaffiliated. If the nurse has a C.M.B. certificate the salary is £5 per year more. The Queen's nurses receive pensions of £20 per annum when leaving at 55 years of age after 21 years' service. Besides a minimum salary, there are certain other necessary conditions for affiliation. They are outlined in the suggested constitution for district nursing associations as follows: — 1. The primary duty of the nurse shall be to attend in their own homes, without distinction of creed, those who are unable to employ a private nurse, it being understood that free nursing is given in cases of necessity. 2. The general sick nursing of patients shall be carried out under the direction of the medical practitioners. 3. Application for the services of a nurse may be made direct to her or otherwise. The nurse may attend a patient on application or in emergency, but must not continue to visit without informing a medical man or receiving his instructions. Should a nurse advise that a patient should have a doctor and the advice be not accepted, the nurse may not attend this patient except in case of fresh emergency. She must report the matter to the secretary. 4. The nurse shall not dispense for her patients any such drugs as should only be prescribed by a medical man. 5. The nurse shall in no case attempt to influence a patient in the choice of a doctor. 6. A midwife shall not accept an engagement without first asking the patient to state and herself registering the name of a doctor to be called in should any emergency arise. 126/TG/RES/X/1036A/14
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