Although a large number of nurses serve in hospitals, these are regarded mainly as training schools, where the young nurse is carrying on her studies as well as gaining practical experience. The difficulty with the present hours of duty is to provide the necessary time for her studies and for preparing for frequent examinations, state and hospital. In early days, the importance of the training was not fully recognized, and the nurse was regarded as one who simply performed certain useful functions. Now, the doctor or surgeon looks to the nurse for assistance in his work; he can only see the patient at intervals but she has him always under observa tion, and the accuracy of her report is of vital importance.
District Nurses. On completing her general training, usually of four years, a nurse may take her district training and be placed on the roll of the Queen's nurses, which are supervised from head quarters hut supported locally. There are still "cottage nurses," with a short training, but those with a higher standard are rapidly increasing, more especially as they are eligible to do county health work under the medical officer of health. Those holding the ct, care of the Central Midwives Board are often employed in and child-welfare work.
Public Health Work. In addition to child welfare work nurses are employed under county, burgh or city schemes. education authorities require a large staff for following up cases of children inspected by their medical officers. Nurses also required for fever and isolation hospitals. Poor Law firmaries give excellent training and have certain advantages c. hospitals, which are also schools for the medical profession.
Private Nursing. This form of nursing has expanded en mously and though some visiting nurses come in for the day are mainly residential. Nurses who undertake this work are to had either from a hospital which sends out its nurses after t!, gain their certificates, or from an institution, possibly a operative institution or home. Nurses are employed in mi. private nursing-homes for the well-to-do.
Mental Nurses. The training for mental nurses is usually c, ducted in a recognized institution for the treatment of men disorders where the candidate serves for three years, and ens for the state examination for mental nurses. The nurses a! attendants are of both sexes, but women are being increasing employed even for male patients.
Midwives and Maternity Nurses. Midwifery is controlled Central Midwives Board, established in London, with jurisdicti, in England and Wales, and there are separate boards for Scotlai and Ireland. The number of midwives on the roll in England at
Wales is approximately 78,000. These boards regulate the is of certificates and the conditions of admission, and have also power to remove names from the roll. In 1910 it was forbidden any person to attend women in childbirth for gain (otherwise th, under direction of a qualified medical practitioner) unless certifi, under the act. An incorporated Midwives Institute has do: splendid work in promoting the interests of midwives. trained nurses take the midwives' certificate, for which a months' special course is required while a twelve months' course midwifery is necessary for those who are not trained nurses.
Masseurs and Masseuses. The Chartered Society of Massa. and Medical Gymnastics grants a certificate to those who ha' taken a prescribed training at a recognized school and have pass, an examination. After June 1927, examination on massage ceas, as a single subject.
Various Services. A voluntary advisory nursing board was tablished in 1921 under the Prison Commission of the Home OE and trained nurses are now appointed for the care of sick pr, oners. A nursing service deals with hospitals under the Minist of Pensions, and a matron-in-chief is at its head.
The Overseas Nursing Association sends trained nurses to ti Crown Colonies and small British communities abroad. There also an Indian nursing service for Europeans in India.
Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service orit. nated in 1902. A nursing board advises the secretary of state matters connected with the service. A matron-in-chief is at head and principal matrons, matrons, sisters and staff nurses a subordinate to her.
In the first year of the World War there were 2,323 fully train( reserve nurses in addition to the regular service, and by 1918 ti number reached 10.304. There is likewise a service called Quet Alexandra's Alilitary Families Nursing Service. The Territori Army Nursing Service, established in 1907-8 in connection wit the Territorial Army, supplied the largest number of British nurs( available on the outbreak of the World War. The probable nun ber required is about 4.000, but the territorial nurses are on called up in case of necessity. Like the Territorial Army, th( enroll with overseas obligations.