Your Hospital and its Nursing Staff

In January, 37 girls, many of them fresh from high school, embarked upon a nursing career at the Nelson Public Hospital, In doing so they joined a band of workers pledged to alleviate suffering and to care for the thousands of patients who annually occupy the 300-odd beds at the hospital. At present, they are but trainees, but in the course of the next 4½ to 5 years they will be given an increasing measure of responsibility with their rise in grading. At the end of that period, most of them will have reached the rank of sister.

Nelson is fortunate in many respects, not the least being the standard of medical care at its beautiful hospital, and the abundance of nurses to work in it. Many centres are not so blessed Nelson's climate, plus the happy atmosphere in which the staff works, are undoubtedly the main reasons why Nelson's medical services are not impaired by staff shortages.

In these next six pages we will take our readers into the hospital and follow the new nurses from their training stages to the point where, after years of training, they are assisting in the operating theatre.

The picture on this page shows the hospital and its grounds, with the new George Manson block and new nurses' home prominent.

First day at the hospital. Above. Margaret Brewerton (Richmond) and Mary Hamilton (Kaikoura) enter the nurses' new home to commence their training. Greeted by Nurse Eleanor Taylor and Sister G. Lewis, At left Dawn Chisnall (Stoke) unpacks in her new room. Below, the girls pose for "Photo News" in the lounge of the new nurses' home.

Making beds, one of the first lessons. Sister H. M. Sigglekow supervises Meryl Haycock and Barbara Taylor while at the other bed Sister A. H. Leach, head tutorial sister, shows Irene Gard and Gaye Suckling a point. Gaye Shaw and Rosalie Ferguson were patients.

Nurse Mary Bagge and Staff Nurse Faye Quennell adjust an intravenous drip for Mrs Maria Wouters.

Trainees also learn correct procedure for washing hands. Here Nurses Gard and Taylor demonstrate.

In the airy tutorial room in the new home, trainees receive their lectures. Here Staff Nurse A. Wendelborn and Sister Sigglekow take a class.

Diet plays a big part. Here Mrs Mary MacGibbon, the dietitian, watches Nurse Doreen Jackett at work.

Well-known entertainer Ralph Price (without banjo) gets injection from Nurse Betty Inwood and Sister Coral Newport.

A helping hand for Graham Springer and Terry Walker from Nurses Robbie Sutherand and Mary Hawkin.

Staff Nurse Ria Pijfers looks to the comfort of patient

Casualty department. Nurse Glenis Teague and Sister' L. Brown attend to Mrs M. L. Brown, Elspeth Badcock and Peter Craig.

Elspeth Badcock sits quietly while Dr E. Toose and Nurse Teague have a look at plaster cast on injured arm

A face wash in children's ward for Lois Eggers by Nurse Helen Canton.

A babe, badly scalded, gets nourishment from Nurse Norma Bradley

Maternity nursery and a glimpse of the latest arrival

All care, much responsibility. Baby Marcus Paul is handed to Mrs Ramona Lucie-Smith by Nurse Verna Falk with Staff Nurse Colleen O'Neill at left.

Two precious bundles held by Nurse Falk and Sister H. Arnold

In the theatre

Previous article Issue contents Next article

The Nelson Photo News

No 4 : March 4, 1961

Your Hospital and its Nursing Staff