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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is being a registered nursen a working class occupation

109 replies

BubbleIceTea · 08/02/2025 14:20

I've spent the morning reading through the Lucy Letby press conference thread, 40 pages long.
In the thread, one poster has stated that registered nurses are working class, in a working class occupation.
Is this true?
I'm shocked by this.
I've always regarded trained registered nursing as a resolutely middle class occupation.

OP posts:
x2boys · 08/02/2025 14:30

Nurses are highly skilled professionals, gone are the days when they were handmaidens to the Doctors, theu have to have a degree for a start and many nurses do extra training and aquire extra skills .

Mnetcurious · 08/02/2025 14:30

It’s one of the jobs that is “classless” in my opinion- people from all walks of life (maybe less so aristocracy!) go in to nursing, whereas some jobs/professions will be more heavily made up of people from working class backgrounds vs others from a middle class upbringing.

umberellaonesie · 08/02/2025 14:30

You need a degree to register as a nurse now so I would say no it isn t a working class occupation.
I would say although many working class occupations require sometimes very specialised skills they are not educated to degree level

x2boys · 08/02/2025 14:27

MatildaTheCat · 08/02/2025 14:24

It’s a professional occupation but anyone from a member of the royal family down to a person from a very underprivileged background can qualify and practice as a nurse.

As can many other professions ,s

partyplanningseason · 08/02/2025 14:27

CoffeeCup14 · 08/02/2025 14:22

I'm not sure jobs and class are as straightforward as they used to be. I think nursing has been skilled working class in the past, a bit like firefighters. Now it requires a degree it's more of a profession, but I'm not sure it's middle-class.

Traditionally working class jobs aren't necessarily unskilled jobs though?

The trades for instance include many skilled jobs.

(Not sure if that's what you're saying to be clear! I'm sharing thoughts on your post not disagreeing with it!)

partyplanningseason · 08/02/2025 14:26

Nurses get paid shit wages for what they do. They deserve a whole lot more.

So maybe for that reason it's not so aspirational for middle classes.

FWIW the few nurses I know are working class. The few midwives I know are more of a mixture.

Aren't most jobs with uniforms traditionally working class roles? Except perhaps pilots?

MatildaTheCat · 08/02/2025 14:24

It’s a professional occupation but anyone from a member of the royal family down to a person from a very underprivileged background can qualify and practice as a nurse.

CoffeeCup14 · 08/02/2025 14:22

I'm not sure jobs and class are as straightforward as they used to be. I think nursing has been skilled working class in the past, a bit like firefighters. Now it requires a degree it's more of a profession, but I'm not sure it's middle-class.

Original poster
BubbleIceTea · 08/02/2025 14:21

I can't edit my title. Excuse the typo.
Registered nurse, not nursen🙄

OP posts:
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