Is it such a shame to stay BAND 5 ?

[Orchid90]

i have worked in 4 different wards . Currently coming up 3 year ( part time ) in ED.
people around me are all getting the 6 if not 7.
I don’t like the ‘ managing other people side’ being in charge , having to argue on the phone . But I feel like people look down at you like you are a bit of an idiot if you are still a 5 ..I still think we do an important part of the job , because I can see the amount of things missed by junior staff , yet the experienced one move up and go in the office or definitely step back from being hands on . They have much more their hands on the phone , than when things go bad it’s often a 5 or 4 or 3 who can get a cannula in . Yet you still treated as less …feel like I’ll have to get this 6 or otherwise accept of being treated badly and denied any further learning opportunity.

The NHS needs band 5 nurses, they are our backbone and you should feel valued.

I was a band 5 for 16 years before I decided to go for a band 6. I had small children and didn’t want to the additional responsibilities.

Now I’m a band 7 and I mostly hate it🤣

I wish more people understood the band 6 role. There should be additional responsibilities but in mental health we offer band 6 to retain staff when they really aren’t working at band 6. It frustrates me as a manager.

You should be proud of yourself for wanting to remain clinical, I miss it and wish I had more time for that. You will be making a difference for your patients and you should be valued for that.

I've been a band 5 for 14 years. I have no desire to be a 6 and do the management side. I find that there is a lot of respect for experienced band 5's that fo their job really well. I don't feel any pressure or negativity about not going for a 6.

If you don’t want to do the management side - and I can tell you, it’s frustrating and soul destroying at times - or the politics (ditto) then stay as a B5. Experienced, committed B5s who are good at their job are vital to the successful running of the NHS.

Yeah but it gets frustrating I found.
I was frustrated that relatively junior inexperienced staff were going for and getting 6&7 posts and I was stuck frustrated knowing that I could do a good job if I took the plunge.

Being managed by someone with 5/10 years less experience than me was difficult to swallow., however fantastic they were (and they were lovely people).

I remained gloriously clinical even at a b7, it can be done.

Hi OP
if people feel band 5s are a ‘bit of an idiot’ that’s on them not on you. Band 5s as a pp said are the backbone of the NHS. I was a 7 and absolutely hated the lack of patient contact (tbf I still did a lot of patient contact but I was nearly burnt out as I still had full time band 7 duties to deal with)
I stepped back down to a 6 and mostly like it, but a bit envious of band 5 colleagues and HCA colleagues as they are generally doing the more meaningful actual nursing. Keep up your good work - don’t go for promotion just because it’s ‘expected’ unless it is right for you.
If my family finances allowed I would consider it myself.

I realise this thread is 3 years old but with the recent announcement of band 5 review how do band 5 nurses feel about applying?