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The following article is derived from Karen Hall's presentation at the Perioperative Nurse College (PNC) of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) conference in Wellington in October, 2024. Karen has focused on a few events and a few people that initiated and drove what has become our College.
History provides us with a sense of identity. By understanding where we have come from, we can better understand who we are. It involves people, events and ideas of the past.
Origins
In November 1969 small group of like-minded Wellington theatre nurses met. They called themselves the 'Wellington Operating Theatre Nurses'. Joan Curle, the then Theatre Supervisor at Wellington Hospital, said, it was "To explore the feasibility of forming a group for mutual support through communication and discussion". Further encouragement came in the form of a generous cash donation from Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson). This was the forerunner of a level of support from many companies supplying theatre equipment and softgoods, which has never abated.
Anne Johnston recalls: "Out of these meetings grew a tight colleagueship, then friendship and exchange of knowledge and ideas which brought us out of isolation. The telephone was our lifeline connection with this peer group. We were the only ones who understood our particular problems and issues. Unfortunately, our 'superiors' didn't classify us as "real" nurses and we have always been up against this barrier within the profession, which is why it was essential that we formalise it. "
At the February 1970 meeting it was agreed to seek recognition of the group as a Special Interest Section of New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNA), later to become NZNO. This was accepted in August 1971. At the October 1972 meeting, Joan Curle mooted the idea of a National Seminar to be held in Wellington. Pam Marley explained it was called a Seminar because "we didn't think the hospital boards would happily support their nurses attending a Conference but would regard a seminar as beneficial". The green light was given by members, medical colleagues and trade representatives. A committee of four was elected and a fifth member was later co-opted. Trade representatives spread the word from Bluffto North Cape.
The First Seminar
The first Seminar was held in October 1973 in Wellington. This Seminar...