S.I. No. 911/1927 - 21/05/1927: The County Schemes (County Hospitals Probationary Nurses) Order, 1927.

DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH. REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF PROBATIONARY NURSES IN COUNTY HOSPITALS ENTITLED

THE COUNTY SCHEMES (COUNTY HOSPITALS PROBATIONARY NURSES) ORDER, 1927.

IN exercise of the powers vested in me by the Poor Relief (Ireland) Acts, 1838 to 1914, the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Acts, 1923 and 1924, and of every county or joint county scheme confirmed or amended by or in pursuance of the said last mentioned Acts and of all powers in this behalf enabling me, I, the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, do by this my Order make and prescribe the following regulations with respect to the employment of probationary nurses in county hospitals provided and maintained under such county or joint county schemes:—

1. This Order may be cited and referred to as the County Schemes (County Hospital Probationary Nurses) Order, 1927.

2. In this Order:—

(i) the expression "board of assistance" means the body to whom is entrusted under a county or joint county scheme the administration of the relief of the poor in any area.

(ii) the expression "county hospital" means the central or county hospital provided and maintained by a board of assistance under a county or joint county scheme, and which has been recognised by the General Nursing Council as an hospital suitable for the training of nurses.

3. A board of assistance may appoint subject to my approval for a county hospital for the purpose of training therein as nurses in accordance with the requirements of the General Nursing Council such and so many women either single or widows to be known as "probationary nurses."

4. No person shall be appointed as a probationary nurse who is less than nineteen years of age or more than thirty years of age.

5. No person shall without my consent first had and obtained be appointed as a probationary nurse unless notice that such appointment will be made shall have been given and entered on the minutes at the ordinary meeting of a board of assistance next preceding the meeting at which the appointment shall be made and unless an advertisement giving notice of such appointment shall by direction of the board of assistance entered on their minutes have appeared in some newspaper circulating in their area at least seven days before the day on which such appointment shall be made.

6. Application for appointment as a probationary nurse shall be made by the applicant personally to the Matron of the county hospital in the first instance who shall, after having made such inquiry as may be necessary to satisfy herself as to the suitability including the educational attainments of the applicant and after consultation with the medical officer and surgeon of the county hospital, furnish the board of assistance with a statement in writing of the name, age, residence, educational attainments, previous occupation and state of health of the applicant, and the result of such inquiry and consultation.

7. The period during which a probationary nurse shall be required to remain as such in the county hospital shall be such period as is prescribed by the regulations of the General Nursing Council as requisite for her training therein, and every person appointed as a probationary nurse shall be required to enter into a written undertaking to remain in the county hospital for not less than that period.

Provided that a board of assistance may release a probationary nurse from such undertaking where the board is satisfied that it is desirable owing to failure of health or other special circumstances to do so.

Provided also that in the event of misconduct, inefficiency or neglect of duty, a probationary nurse may be at any time removed by the Board of Assistance with my approval or by me.

8. A probationary nurse for a county hospital shall be subject as regards the discharge of her duties to the control and direction of the medical officer and surgeon and the matron of the county hospital and to all the regulations made by me for the time being in force in the county hospital with respect to the duties of nurses.

9. The board of assistance shall pay and allow each probationary nurse whilst employed in the County Hospital such remuneration and allowances as I may approve or direct, and shall in addition provide each probationary nurse with the uniform prescribed under Article 10 hereof.

10. A probationary nurse shall wear whilst employed at the county hospital such uniform as the Matron of the County Hospital shall with the approval of the board of assistance direct.

11. The board of assistance shall pay to such of the officers of the County Hospital as shall be engaged in the instruction of probationary nurses in accordance with the requirements of the General Nursing Council in respect of such instruction such allowances as I may approve or direct.

12. (1) Every person appointed as a probationary nurse shall pay to the board of assistance such premium or fee in consideration of her training in the County Hospital as I may approve or direct.

(2) A board of assistance shall refund to a probationary nurse who has been released by them from her undertaking or has been removed under the provisions of Article 8 of these regulations such portion of any premium or fee paid by her to the board of assistance under this article as I may approve or direct.

13. A register shall be kept by the matron of the County Hospital under the direction of the board of assistance, containing the name of each probationary nurse, the date of her appointment, and a record of her conduct and qualifications whilst so employed in the county Hospital.

14. A board of assistance may, subject to my approval, enter into an agreement with the Authorities of any hospital recognised by the General Nursing Council as an hospital suitable for the training of nurses for the joint training in such hospital and in the County Hospital of women, either single or widows, as nurses, and may by any such agreement vary the provisions of Articles 5, 6, and 8 of this Order in so far as may be necessary, to permit of the admission to the County Hospital for training therein as nurses of women who have completed the requisite period of training under such agreement in the first mentioned hospital.

15. The provisions of this Order shall not apply to any person who has been appointed to a County Hospital under any scheme or arrangement duly made for the appointment and training of persons as nurses in a County Hospital and in force before the date of this Order, but shall apply to every such person who may hereafter be appointed notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such scheme or arrangement.

Given under My Seal of Office, this Twenty-first day of

May in the year of Our Lord, One Thousand

Nine Hundred and Twenty-seven.

SEAMUS DE BURCA,

Minister for Local Government and Public Health.