Hi Karen,

You email arrived just as we, the nurses in Ireland are in Day 15 of 
a 'work to rule' where nurses are not carrying out management services 
such as answering phones,attending meeting.  The nursing profession 
does not agree with the national Benchmarking which leaves them with a 
longer week than similar professions in the health service and an 
entry pay level below some other health care workers who report to 
them. All this results in a great deal of didatisfaction within the 
profession here.  


Since 2002, we have a degree as the point of registration for all 
nurses and consequently university entry requirement for the 
profession but I'm not sure that public opinion would equate us a 
professionals. Which takes me to the point of what have we as nurses 
done to make our work viable?  Do we act as professionals? We are lost 
in a power struggle which as a predominantly female profession is set 
to continue for the forseeable future. 
Regards
Rita



Rita Collins
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems
University College Dublin
Belfield
Dublin 4, Ireland
----- Original Message -----
From: Karen Rich <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, April 15, 2007 8:55 pm
Subject: Re: RN (no college degree required)
To: [log in to unmask]

> It is interesting that physical therapists have moved so far so 
> fast and the
> qualification to be a registered nurse is still being classified 
> as "no
> college degree required."
> Karen
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A list to promote discussion of philosophical issues in nursing
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jacqueline 
> FawcettSent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 2:45 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: RN (no college degree required)
> 
> Perhaps we would not see such misleading information if we could 
reach
> consensus on entry level into nursing! Jacqueline Fawcett
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> From: A list to promote discussion of philosophical issues in 
> nursing on
> behalf of Karen Rich
> Sent: Sun 4/15/2007 1:35 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: RN (no college degree required)
> 
> 
> 
> Yes, David, I certainly agree that this is the most obvious and basic
> interpretation of the designation...my faux pas...I guess I should 
> have gone
> a step further in asking the question that I really am concerned
> about...."what do we want to do about it?"
> 
> I generally do not believe that nurses should cast blame to people 
> outsideof nursing for unsatisfactory views about and within the 
> profession. Are we
> ready to change? Do we need to change? What do we want to do as a 
> nursingcommunity to change views that are incorrect or 
> unsatisfactory to us?
> Karen
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A list to promote discussion of philosophical issues in nursing
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Seedhouse
> Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 12:07 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: RN (no college degree required)
> 
> They require a similar level of intellect and education?
> 
> David
> 
> >>> Karen Rich <[log in to unmask]> 16/04/07 4:56 AM >>>
> Hello Everyone,
> 
> On Sundays, my local newspaper includes a nationally 
syndicated "news"
> magazine named "Parade." Each year the news magazine publishes a 
> reportabout "what people earn." I am always eager to read about 
> nurses' salaries
> and look forward to seeing whether or not nursing is included in the
> "hottest jobs."
> 
> 
> 
> When reading today's issue with the annual report about "what 
> people earn,"
> I was skipping through the pages out of order while happily eating my
> breakfast. I noticed a box in the article titled "The Hottest Jobs 
> (ForCollege Grads).physical therapist was listed and I 
> wondered.where is
> nursing?  Then.I turned to the previous page and noticed another 
> box. "The
> Hottest Jobs (No College Degree Required).well I almost dropped my 
> fork.tomy dismay.registered nurses is listed along with sales 
> representatives,translators, dental hygienists, insurance 
> adjusters, transportation workers,
> athletic trainers, auto technicians, and legal secretaries.
> 
> 
> 
> Does anyone want to comment about what may be signified by this 
> designationof nursing?
> 
> Kind regards,
> 
> Karen Rich
>