Degree nurses not always ideal
Degree nurses do not always make good caring ones. They concentrate too much on the academic side of things, and not enough on the hands-on aspects of what the patient needs. It seems that many of them now come into the profession for money, not because they care. I have worked with a number of them in hospital, and when asked to bathe a patient in bed, they had no idea how to do it.
Angela Leach, healthcare assistant (HCA)
NMC fee rises
I am writing in response to the proposed annual fee rise within the NMC. It appears that pro rata we will be paying more fees for registration than any other professional body. How do other professional bodies manage to keep their fees down while the NMC is continually increasing its registration fees, with no apparent increase in resources for the nurses who are working and paying them? All that does seem to be increasing is the time allotted for Fitness to Practice (FTP) hearings, and the numbers of nurses appearing on the list that is available for the public to see. Surely this area of the NMC should not be paid for by the registration fees of the vast majority of nurses who never need an FTP hearing, but should be a separate fund?
Anonymous
HCA treated like nurse for pittance
I am a healthcare assistant with level 3 NVQ and am treated as a treatment room nurse because I can do so many different things. Yet I get paid a lot less than a trained nurse. We never hear anything about pay for our grade and it's time the government and some nursing bodies thought about this. We are a valuable commodity to nursing and it's time our pay reflected this.
Anonymous, HCA, Chester
HCA to nursing
I currently work in a group surgery as a (HCA). I am very keen to learn new skills and consider myself compassionate and willing to learn. I am currently studying for an Open University degree but this isn't in nursing, it is in humanities, which I fund myself part-time. I would be more than willing to learn new skills and see that there is a gap between progressing from HCA to being a nurse. Have you any comments?
Karen Murray, HCA
Nurse-led clinics
I am a practice nurse in Leytonstone, London. I have been a practice nurse for the past 16 years. I was very impressed after reading the article in Independent Nurse on a nurse-led practice. I am very interested in running a nurse-led practice. Can anyone advise me how to move this forward?
Lorraine Gobin, practice nurse, London
Twitter: see who's saying what about health
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There is a consultation open on Schools having emergency salbutamol inhalers available - add your views. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/propos... … #ARNS2014. @speak2matt
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#IND2014 Thank you to all nurses for all you do & even in hard times, be proud of our profession & the difference you make. @JaneMCummings