Just a rant from a nurse

[Bestkindaparty]

I know there's a 101 threads about the nursing strike. But I just need an anonymous forum to rant.
I left home at 6am this morning and I'm only just getting home. I need a shower because someone threw their hot coffee over me because I didn't answer their buzzer fast enough and they needed a pillow. I didn't answer it quick enough because I was performing cpr on a child with suspected strep A. 12 hours into my shift without a break because we just don't have the staff.
All week on Facebook tiktok and other social media all I've seen is how disgusting us nurses are. How people will die because of the strikes all because we want more money.
Yes we want to paid fairly. We do not get paid enough for the training we do. 2300 hours of unpaid work and then other 3000 hours of uni. Plus all the responsibilities we have. Some people think we're just doctors assistants but its not like that anymore. But the main reason is we're tired of fearing for our pins (that we pay a yearly fee for) we're tired of not being able to care for people the way we want because there's not enough staff. The ratio is supposed to be 1 to 3. I can't remember when I've had less than 8 patients. We want to protect the NHS. We need people to join and to retain current staff who are leaving in droves due to burnout. What happens when there's none of us left?
We had no option but to strike. Nothing else has worked. We want to protect ours and everyone's future. Personally I don't want to cry on every drive to and from work because I'm scared someone will die due to me not being able to give the care they need.
If you've got this far thanks for reading

I am 100% behind you and all nurses striking OP. I used to work in a clinical role in the NHS and left to be a civil servant. I earn almost double what I did in the NHS, admittedly I was not a nurse. What I am seeing though, is a large number of nurses joining the CS as they see they can achieve a similar, or higher salary for a significantly less stress and responsibility

This is a controversial idea, but I think there should be a separate pay band for nurses on AFC. At the moment, if the government does agree any payrise for nurses, all bands increase along with it.

There are many roles which sit in band 5, 6 and 7 which aren't clinical/nursing. I don't doubt within this there are skilled professionals, stressful jobs and hard working people. But, in my view, the level of responsibility, the conditions and potential consequences nurses face for missing something or making an error whilst doing their job is just not comparable.

Its heartbreaking that those who want to continue working as nurses are forced to leave because of both the pay and awful conditions under which they are attempting to practise.

I think most people suppor the strikes its just the ones who don't are more vocal!
I'm nhs too but not nurse - our union didn't get enough response to strike. My colleagues and I were discussing how grateful we are that you are, as if anything is gained it will likely benefit us also because of agenda for change (although if they did do an uplift just for nurses I would understand as it is the most affected by short staff!). Nurses have a rally tough job and we're all very grateful for the job you do. Nurses don't strike lightly, so I really hope the government listens

My husband is an ITU consultant. I’ve spoken to his nurse colleagues about what they did during the pandemic, when the country hailed you all as heroes. It takes astonishing levels of strength and compassion to do what you do.

A government that removes limits on bankers bonuses whilst allowing nurses to be on pay that means that can’t pay their bills is one that’s morally bankrupt. They need to go and soon whilst it’s possible to resolve the damage of their time in government.

Anyone that supports the government over this should read a bit more and be absolutely disgusted with themselves. You will find that type on social media, that same type were accusing my husband of killing people whilst he treated Covid patients - where there’s people there are utter morons.

Keep up the good fight, personally I think this will go on to become a general strike, and it’s needed to break this Tory government.

I honestly don't understand this opinion. Striking is about seeing the bigger picture, fighting for better for the people in our care for the future.

I totally 100% support all nurses,ambulance staff, rm for striking. I cannot imagine the conditions you are made to work under and find it really unacceptable. I hope you got a good nights sleep.

I think most people that don’t support the strikes have very little knowledge about the situation.
For a start, the role of a nurse has changed significantly and I don’t think some people understand that.
So, not only have we had real terms pay cuts for over a decade, we’ve also become more skilled and take on more responsibility than ever before.

@Creasygirl
@BaileySharp

You make good points about AFC banding. Maybe it would be possible to change which banding nurses sit in or have some sort of pay supplement for clinical roles that are suffering recruitment and retention issues. Doing so would reduce the wage bill increase substantially with there being so many non-clinical roles in those bands.

Totally support you.

I never clapped for the NHS during covid because I found the idea insulting. You need pay and resources.

@Bestkindaparty can I ask this question?
Do you think the NHS has some stupidly high paid managerial (ie not on the coalface) positions that could and should be slimmed down to free up funding.

(I'm talking about the widely reported jobs recently announced with a weird title that paid over £100k - sorry can't recall where I saw the articles), as well as so much money wasted in overpaying for resources?
How would you tackle that?

I think most people that don’t support the strikes have very little knowledge about the situation

Clearly not all nurses support the strikes -
The RCN, which has more than 300,000 members... won a mandate for action at 176 employers out of 311 where ballots were held.

I agree there is a lack of knowledge - but that applies to both sides:

Pat Cullen (RCN general secretary) emphasised on BBC Question Time this week that the starting salary for a newly qualified nurse in central London was £27,000 - she's wrong - it's £32,466 (including the higher cost area supplement).

Odessafile · Yesterday 23:40
Only a minority of nurses go beyond band 5 or become specialist nurses...

According to the BBC, 42% of nurses in England are Band 5 - 58% are Band 6 and above.

@Clavinova

Clearly not all nurses support the strikes -
The RCN, which has more than 300,000 members... won a mandate for action at 176 employers out of 311 where ballots were held.

Supporting the strike and partaking are two different issues though.
Of all of the nurses on my ward (around 90), I’ve had conversations with most regarding the strikes. Lots of them said they support those wishing to strike but hadn’t voted to strike because they didn’t want to strike themselves. Lots of nurses are very scared of the repercussions. There were many who didn’t vote too because our area would be exempt from strikes anyway.

I am angry with the government for not resolving the strike, for allowing the NHS to get into this state, because I feel scared every long weekend in case one of my children or elderly parents gets ill and can't access emergency care.

I support the strikes.

Nurses are powerless against most of the problems. Them not striking wouldn't help except onthe actual strike days. Much of the NHS is dangerously inadequate due to long term understanding. That is not the fault of nurses or any other NHS staff.

I need a shower because someone threw their hot coffee over me because I didn't answer their buzzer fast enough and they needed a pillow.

What, if anything, were the consequences for this person, @Bestkindaparty ? I would like to think there were some.

I completely agree it's appalling that medical staff have to tolerate abuse like this.
People who are desperate and in pain are often not in control of themselves I'm not saying this to excuse them we definitely need a way to shield medical staff from abuse.
People should not have to tolerate dehumanising work conditions. I don't know what the answer is surely this is a problem for all first responders, we expect them to do things that no one else can cope with but they are human like the rest of us and then when they get burnt out and can't cope any longer we just discard them.
It's wrong but I don't know what the answer is, we need people to do this very difficult demanding work but we treat them terribly, why is this?

My nurse friend and I (allied health) were discussing this last night. Honestly, I'm pretty cross with the Union Leaders who seem to have made it all about increased annual pay and that seems to be all they will discuss when being interviewed! As you have rightly said, there are so many greater issues and making it about pay does a grave disservice to all. Nurses need to be paid for ALL hours that they do, the unscheduled hour or two (or more) when their shift runs over because they can't hand over due to yet another incident. Locums / agency are paid HUGE amounts compared to nurses and get to walk away at the end of shift or paid for those extra hours, which is a HUGE bone of contention to nurses on standard wage, working overtime for free. Not enough nurses? Well why not offer a GOOD bursary whilst training but couple it with a handcuffs deal? Free training but you have to work X amount of hours for the NHS? I have 2 friends currently about to graduate as nurses and both intend never to work in the NHS and go straight into private work as Aesthetics Practitioners, because that's where the big bucks are. So tax-payers (me and you) have paid for their courses but they won't ever work in the NHS? How is that right? So many issues with the NHS at the moment...... steps off soap box

@MagratsDanglyCharms21
Everything you said, excellent use of soap box👏🥇

Same handcuffs for dentists too!

Private sector professional here.
I support you
My dad was a fireman and took part in the 2002/3 industrial action.
I've seen first hand how fucking hard this is.. the decision to strike is probably the hardest one he made during his career.
We're behind you 💯
The people directing their anger at nurses are directing their anger at the wrong people.

I used to be a nurse and come from generations of nurses. Both male and female.

Im torn tbh. I get it I really do. I understand the myriad of reasons. I hate that the fucking Tories have destroyed the NHS.

BUT....vulnerable people will suffer because of the strikes. Some may die. I can't in good conscience support actions that lead to this. I know my parents and grandparent nurses would turn in their graves at the thought of a nurses strike.

Im also uncomfortable with forces personnel, the majority of whom are on far less, having to sacrifice their Christmas.

I blame the government entirely but no, cannot support the strike.

Not a nurse but work in the NHS. You 100% have my support, and thank you for what you do. The fucking Tories have broken the NHS and my fear is it is beyond repair. They are so disgusting, dont even have the balls to admit they want to close it down.

I support the strikes the nurses have been placed deliberately and it in an intolerable position where they have no good options, this is inhumane our government is a disgrace
I support strikes the nurses have been left with no other option

i place the blame squarely and surely on the weak pathetic shoulders of our despicable risible awful government

Total support here.

I support the nurses and teachers. You have to put up with people, long hours and no proper breaks.

The whole of the NHS needs a good shake up tbh it's an absolute shambles it cannot continue in its current format I absolutely support nurses striking for better pay and if the NHS dispensed with the woke wankery middle managers who cant cut it in the private sector there would be plenty of cash to fund it. The whole thing needs serious reform some of that starts with people taking a bit of personal responsibility and not dashing off to A&E for period pains and sunburn and the NHS having the spine to send these idiots on their way.

Nurse here-

Agree with you @WonkasBooboofixer
@Willyoujustbequiet - insidiously vulnerable people are already suffering and people are dying because staffing levels are so poor and at dangerous levels. There’s a nursing crisis that needs addressing urgently. We have to attract people into the profession. Student nurses need bursaries. The pay has to reflect the training and skills required.