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

So sorry OP. I left in August. I have loads of experience but just could not take the fear anymore.Now in min wage job on support line but so much less stress.

100% support from my family.

Yes I agree - it’s managers that need sacking. If they cannot manage and staff effectively, it will obviously put lives in danger. I get that in A&E it’s not quite the same ref. breaks but with full staffing (again not the nurses fault) that would be much less of an issue.

I think striking for improved working conditions/shorter shift patterns would be more effective long term than purely asking for higher pay.

Thank you so much for everything. You deserve to be paid fairly-we need you all.

Not sure it is just tories though. I started nursing in 1986 and lasted until 2018 when I finally had had enough. In all those years, the NHS was dreadful. Right from starting training at age 18 I was put in dreadful situations which have caused lasting mental scarring. I finally decided enough was enough after one terrible nightshift where numerous disasters could have resulted in patient safety or death. There were so many agitated patients at end of life or severely ill and not enough staff. I had to ask someone else's relative to keep an eye on a man with a brain tumour who was trying to climb out of bed as there was literally no one else. The minute the day staff came on shift i said that was it, I was quitting after 32 years. have never looked back.

I think nurses are amazing and support you 100%

I completely agree with this, and with the need to bring back diplomas.

Support you 100% and all strikers. Thank you for all you do and taking collective action against the govt who want working people to live on lower wages - and in the case of the NHS continue to run it down - whilst the v rich continue to increase their wealth through actions like quantitative easing which may be necessary but enrich them. Impose a wealth tax!

I support the nurses strike 100%. Please ignore social media and the tabloids that whip up hate to sell newspapers.

You do an amazing job, I hope you get a good night's sleep.

I took a big pay cut to leave Nursing but have no regrets ! Even if they got an 18% payrise now I would not go back ! I do a job where I can still use Nursing skills and feel like I am still making a difference to people. The pay is probably similar to base pay for a newly qualified Nurse but so much less stress or responsibility.

With you 100%. Thank you.

I support nurses 100%.

My friends two year old died this week. It will undoubtedly be proven due to negligence of the trust, the same trust her own mother works for. It’s absolutely disgusting. If a nurses own child isn’t safe in the hospital she works for then who is?!

And this is why we are striking.

Anyone who doesn't support your strikes is a moron and really has no understanding of what is going on in the nhs. Just ignore them
We support you and are very grateful to you.

Totally support you. I’d hoped the pandemic had taught us what we really should value as a society but was saddened how soon those in power have forgotten and how hollow their plaudits turned out to be.

I don't often support strikes, but I support the nurses' (and paramedics) strike 100%.

You and your colleagues are doing a magnificent job OP, and deserve to be much better treated. The public are overwhelmingly on your side and I think that it is only a matter of time before things start to improve.

I fully support you and your colleagues.

I live in Australia and I’m just horrified by what I hear is happening in the NHS. It’s not perfect here by any means, but the systemic and deliberate lack of funding to the NHS should have people out in the streets.

I went out on strike this week and cried about it. Needs to be done though

You not only have my support, you have my utmost respect. I’m glad venting has helped you feel better after a rough week. The vast majority understand and are on your side Op, that has always been the case. We stand together, you are not alone.
I hope you get what you deserve, not only what you need. And I hope you have a lovely Christmas.

I am one of your interpreters, I have been working with the NHS staff for many years now, and I have seen how hard the nurses work. How hard their work is - and how many nurses (and midwives, and HCAs and doctors etc) have left in these years. You all deserve better. Better wages, better work conditions, better support. I support your strike 100%

This is so sad. Trusts pay out so much money to victims of negligence ( not that money can ever compensate for loss of a life), that they may as well just pay for proper staffing. I work with older people and just recently I have heard so many stories from them regarding hospital negligence and also GP's missing stuff. one man ended up having to have his leg amputated due to drs missing stuff and scans being delayed. I really do think the NHS is on it's knees. It's scary.

Doctor here, you have 100% support from every HCP I have spoken to about the strike.
in fact I have not met anyone from any other field who does not support this strike.
It’s a disgrace that this government have forced this situation by pay erosion over years ( to all other NHS workers, and other public sector workers too).

Ignore any negativity- only a complete idiot/ Tory politician would be against this strike

That patient who threw coffee on you should be chucked out. So sorry you experienced an assault while trying to work- I think should be reported as such.

@attendancerubbish where I work we have separate a&es for children and adults. But we only have one resus area. So in the unfortunate times a child requires advanced life support they get brought to resus in the adult area where I was working. Peadiatric nurses and doctors are also in attendance but sometimes can't get there before the paramedic crew. We're all trained in pediatric life support so are able to assist

I have had nothing but great care with kind caring nurses and technicians and you have my full support.

I support you op. X