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Feminism: chat

Protect the title Nurse

156 replies

Cuck00soup · 24/10/2021 09:39

Arbella2 has been doing sterling work over on petitions and activism to promote the current petition to protect the title Nurse in law so that it can only be used by those who are qualified and registered with the appropriate organisation.

This isn’t a TAAT, I thought it was worth discussing the feminist aspects of this. The nursing workforce is predominantly female and I can’t help thinking that is part of the issue.

As explained by prof Alison Leary in the blog linked below Although the term Registered Nurse is protected under the 1997 Nurses Midwives and Health Visiting Act, the term “nurse” is not protected in the UK. It’s an issue because the term nurse is the term in common usage. Other professional titles such as physiotherapist, hearing aid dispenser, dental nurse or paramedic are protected in law.

This means anyone can use the term nurse to offer services, advice or be employed as a “nurse”. The use of the term nurse is not restricted to use by Registered Nurses and can be used by many different types of worker. This includes assistive roles such as healthcare support workers or other professionals taking on “nursing” work.

richmondgroupofcharities.org.uk/news/guest-blog-protecting-title-nurse-uk-law

It is women who are most affected by this. If the title Nurse isn’t protected in law, the option to employ unqualified workers becomes tempting to companies looking to save money. This means nursing assistants being placed in positions they shouldn’t be, and patients and the public being at risk of receiving the wrong care. It will also, in all likelihood, exert a downward pressure on the salaries of qualified nurses.

I can’t help wondering if this would even be an issue in professions with more males.

If you would like to sign the petition, please see Arbella2’s thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/petitions_noticeboard/4368136-protect-the-title-nurse-in-uk-law-petition-the-title-nurse-can-be-used-by-anyone-in-the-uk-petition-created-by-professor-alison-leary-rn?reverse=1

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SilverSpring · 24/06/2022 07:14

I won’t be signing as there is sufficient protection for the term Registered Nurse. Employers know the difference and should be held to account if they pressure staff to hold roles that they are not qualified for.

A nurse does not need to be a qualified person at all from the original meaning, and from a feminist perspective, we could harm women’s earning potential and likelihood of going on to further study by othering them into lesser categories of caregiver.

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Elizabeth7 · 24/06/2022 11:11

The petition came to its six month end in December 2021. Now that the RCN are firmly behind protecting the title Nurse and the Chief Nursing Officer for England has pledged her support, the legislators are more likely to heed safety concerns. Protecting the title nurse in no way affects the important role of other team members. They are valued and have an important role. But all staff need to work within the boundaries of their formal training for patient safety and there needs to be clarity between job titles for complete transparency and public confidence.

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Cuck00soup · 24/06/2022 11:49

there needs to be clarity between job titles for complete transparency and public confidence.

Absolutely. The public want reassurance that Nurse means qualified Nurse. IME they value healthcare assistants and recognise that they are skilled and competent members of the team, but don't like being misled by opaque job titles.

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Pyewhacket · 24/06/2022 11:57

Babdoc · 24/10/2021 16:40

The engineering example is an interesting one, FTEngineerM.
In many European countries, the title Engineer is used as an honorific, like Dr or Mr. And is restricted to engineering graduates, who command respect for their professional skills and training.
I wonder if in the UK we still have a hangover of the class system, where “trade” and potentially messy mechanical sciences such as engineering, were looked down on as not suitable for gentlemen? And therefore the title was not respected or restricted, being applied freely to simple repairmen who had never studied an engineering degree?

Then they would be fitters or mechanics, wouldn't they !!!.

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Elizabeth7 · 24/06/2022 13:32

NB Petition closed December 2021

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Elizabeth7 · 24/06/2022 14:00

June 2022
•RCN backs the campaign to Protect the title Nurse in UK law and voted to lobby legislators.
•Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England pledges her support. At the NHS ConfedExpo 2022 she branded protection of the title Nurse a patient safety issue.

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