CITY DISTRICT HEALTH NURSE

The District Health nurse works mainly with children and families. She is a registered nurse, maternity trained and often has a Plunket Certificate. When babies are born in the district she notifies parents about the immunisation programme and ensures that regular checks for pre-school and school age children are performed. School lessons such as mother craft, first aid, and health talks; health checks for children, parents and caring for the elderly are all in a days work, for the District Health Nurse.

The Island Bay Italian fishing community is depicted. Fishermen pull up onto the beach in a boat. There is a language difficulty which must be overcome. The men place their catch in a truck with sign ‘Fishermen’s Co-operative Ltd.’ The District Nurse asks Mr [Campanilla] how the baby (bambino) is, but her father says she is not well. The District Nurse calls into the home of the Mrs [Campanilla] who doesn’t speak English, so a neighbour acts as interpreter. The mother explains the little girl has been crying all night with tooth ache. The District Nurse arranges for her to be seen at the clinic straight away.

St Dominics School for the Deaf [Feilding] is one of the District Nurse’s favourite ports of call. The nuns teach the children speech.