Nurses, how will you vote?

[AndSoFinally]

The RCN are balloting members over strike action. They are looking for a 5% increase in pay over and above inflation.

Will you ballot to strike?

(DOI: I'm a medic and I would be 100% behind you)

DH is a nurse and he’s never thought about going on strike but he’s simply had enough now. The expectations and pressures are too much and there’s no support and no pay increases to reflect the responsibility and pressure. The care for patients is being affected because there’s too many turning up in hospitals because of lack of GP appointments, more sick people waiting for beds and lack of staff affecting their ability to care. Management always seem to want to know why things aren’t being done quick enough, despite the fact it’s obvious but they choose to ignore it. The patients and relatives are getting fed up, the nurses take the brunt of it all. DH told me he felt like walking out and never going back and again he’s never felt like this. So yep he’s voting for strike action

All the nurses on my team are voting yes. They are beyond all limits at the minute. People are leaving to get better paid jobs elsewhere, which is just increasing the pressure on those left behind. I've never seen morale so low

I'm not a nurse, but I 100% support them striking. I've seen posters on other threads say "People will die" - but people are dying right now because nurses are so stressed and overworked and simply don't have the resources they require to care for patients appropriately.

Midwife, in Unison. Would definitely strike. Support my Nursing colleagues 100%.
Enough is Enough.

I'm in 2 minds about striking because it'll mean our patients will suffer. Also not sure if the government will even take us seriously. Time and time again we have seen how our society doesn't value health and social care.

They don’t take you seriously because you never strike. Believe me they will take this seriously. Even if only the elective work stops that will be enough to make them cave in very quickly to demands.

I’m a nurse, will 100% vote to strike. It’s not only a pay issue it’s staffing levels which are dangerous to patients and staff. The pressure is unbelievable just now. My area is pretty well staffed so other areas just take our staff as they’re always short (obviously this decision comes from above) so you never know where your going to end up working. If I take a break on my Nighshifts which have less staff than dayshift I simply can’t finish all my work. Chuck in the abuse from patients and families and it’s a pretty shite job at the moment…

@Nap1983 I'm really sorry to hear of your situation. I completely understand and have experienced similar. The problem with staff:patient ratio is huge across the country. We know that 40k nurses left the professional register this year alone. As you must appreciate, training new staff takes years. Do you think striking will improve the environment for you? If yes how so?

Yes I will be striking even though my fil thinks nurses should be charged with manslaughter 😲 if they do. It's not just about pay, and I wish the RCN would also push this angle. Of course like everyone else I would love more money but conditions need to improve. Patients are at risk everyday. I know harm is being caused to patients and no one listens. I have recently contacted the freedom to speak up guardian, the response? Well it took 5 weeks so I gave up.
Staff are broken.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4645444-nurses-taking-strike-action?reply=120540195

Yes. Something has to change and if this is the only way we can make our voices be heard then so be it

I am constantly reading opinions on this as I have no idea. For me striking is not about pay but about making the profession more appealing so we aren't so short staffed. Patient safety is the top issue, staff getting moved to areas hey have no experience in. I wish we could strike for what really matters as then the public would be behind us I'm sure. I feel like a strike will piss people off more than gain support.

100% yes - I probably won’t be eligible to actually strike because I work in A&E, but I will definitely vote yes, and be on the picket lines when I’m off.

What action has who taken? Nurses? If so well we are doing our but by the patients. Surely the rest is up to the NHS.

Sorry doing our bit by caring for our patients.

@Cascais

Nurses have been speaking up for year's, particularly since the Francis report about safe staffing being mandated and enforced and the impact this has on patient care and staff wellbeing and retention, but no one listens or cares.

Other than striking, what do you propose nurses do?

I left the NHS, I still do agency work to keep my pin. I don't think nurses realise just how bad it is until we actually leave. I was assaulted at work, the hour early I left to be treated was written in the time owing book.

I would definitely support strike action, for many reasons.

I support nurses striking for as long as it takes. If it means any care I would otherwise get is rationed thinly then so be it. The NHS is a fantastic resource that is only as good as its people. I sense we are on the cusp of damaging that resource.

In 2020 we were so grateful for the doctors and nurses saving lives while putting their own lives at risk as we were all paid to stay at home and watch Netflix. We clapped and those that can all said they would pay more tax to fund the NHS. Now it seems the Government has its own ideas. But they do not speak for me and have now lost my vote. Enough is Enough and it is time for change.

I was a nurse for 40 years, retired for 9 years now. I would definitely strike. We “worked to grade” in the 1980’s/90’s after being downgraded from E to D staff nurses on nights. We refused to take the drug keys and it cost a fortune paying overtime - they soon capitulated

Health care professional, not nurse.
I support strike action 100%

I'm a nurse. Not I the NHS but social care now. I'd vote to strike. They are being taken for mugs. It's no wonder they are losing so many nurses to other jobs, and abroad.
They are woefully underpaid.

Ex-nurse, left a few years ago due to work related stress. My PIN has lapsed.

I wholeheartedly support the strike. Nurses do not take the decision lightly, hence why it has got to this point before strike action has been considered. It’s disgusting that the profession has been allowed to get to this point. Clapping on the doorstep and govt lip service about great, agile, adaptable care is useless if it isn’t backed by changes to pay and conditions to improve retention of nurses with years of valuable skills and experience.

Nurse here, had enough. Yes to strike and posted ballot yesterday

They didn’t take teachers seriously when they were striking.

Just a member of the public but I would support a nursing strike.