Nurses

[annavc]

More an observation than anything else but I'd always been under the impression that nurses were really over-worked and under-paid. This would seem not to be the case, or at least not for my new housemate who is a nurse at a large London hospital. She only has to work 12 shifts a month and when she works a night shift or a weekend (which seems to include Friday(!)) she gets paid a fortune. She told me that one day at a weekend and she brings home about �500. In the last month she's worked 3 weekends (no weekdays at all) so that's a total of only 6 days and she will have earned approx. �3000. That's �2000 more than I take home in a month working 5 days a week. I know it's hard work and they do a really worthwhile job and I don't begrudge it but how can they claim they are overworked and underpaid!!!!!!

[whiskeysheri]

http://www.nursing-pay.com/

[laurence2]

annavc, i think your friend may be telling you a few porky's.

Are you saying she earns �500 a shift, she must be the best paid nurse in the world, she must be doing agency work, but even allowing for this on a 10 hour night shift at weekends would be very surprised if its anywhere near �250? What grade is she?

As for the latter part of your post ''worthwhile job/ overworked/underpaid, Most nurses are overworked and underpaid, and i don't think your comments claiming the said mentioned will go down well with most.

[Lonnie]

As with the above post, I was going to ask if she's agency.

[jaberwocky]

if you've ever been in hospital you'll see that they are definately NOT paid enough for what they have to do. at edinburgh royal infirmary nurses [including agency] worked 12 hr shifts with 2 days off. is your housemate the queen's nurse?

[lady_p_gold]

Well in annavc's defence I think it was merely put as a question and not in anyway meant as an insult, that is how I read it anyway .....

[curiosity]

annavc, I am a nurse, I never claim to be underpaid but I am overworked at times. I choose not to work nights & weekends, and as a nurse I am lucky to be able to do that, although things are getting more flexible, so hopefully more nurses will be able to choose their shifts. Working a night shift or a Saturday brings a nurse 30% more per hour, working a Sunday 60% more. Some of my colleagues prefer the money aspect and work the weekends, however this used to totally go against the grain of normal life and is why it has higher incentive to work. Some people would love to know they are going to finish every Friday and party. �500 per shift means she must be near to managing the hospital! Are you sure she doesn't mean working the whole weekend gets her �500?

[annavc]

Thanks for your responses everyone. I really didn't mean it as an insult to anyone. I was just so surprised when this girl told me that that was what she earned as is seemed so high. She's a pediatric nurse - no management level and she's not agency so I guess she must have been exaggerating. I thought it sounded odd. Sorry if I offended anyone, I really didn't mean to - it was just a question. I do know know nurses work really hard and have to do the most difficult things, working very long hours. I wouldn't do it no matter how much it paid and I really admire those that do. It was simply a question because I was so surprised at what this girl had told me. Thanks again for your answers.

[undercovers]

i've always been a bit jealous of a pediatric nurse i used to date ... worked 3 days a week (still full time hours though) and then went on mini breaks and trips and generally had a good time on her 4 off days before work again. seems like quite a nice job all in all - asides from all the dying kids, vomit and blood... actually maybe it isn't for me (undercovers feels a bit ill thinking about it)