On Saturday, August 08, 1998 7:41 PM, Haines [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] 
wrote:
>
> Interestingly enough this is a live debate at the moment on nurse uk. I
> think that nurses would like their skills to be valued and rewarded. All 
of
> the above would be good :-)
> One of the main issues for nurses undergoing training now is that their
> training is at graduate level but their pay and working conditions
> equivilent to a cleaner.
> There will be no recruitment gains without a reasonable salary rise no
> matter how glossy the advertising.

I think it is wonderful that we have a new generation of highly skilled and 
trained nurses. Nurses have succeded in obtaining excellant education by 
various rounds of negociation. I agree that payment scales have not 
significantly changed to match the new skills. Primary care is starting to 
utilise these skills with nurse practitioners and there is plenty of scope 
for further extensions of the role. You quite correctly point out that 
nurses are still being used to 'brow mop' which is not in keeping with 
their skills.

However there is a need for someone to 'brow mop' and perform the roles 
that nurses have often done. My wife well recalls the start of her nursing 
career when for one week she was shown how to clean a toilet! I suspect 
that a lot of these jobs could be performed by someone with less training. 
Immunisation clinics for example - a computer prints out the recommended 
schedule and then an 'injectorist' (sort of phlebotomist in reverse) 
administers the injections. At present receptionists often read out the 
recommendations off the wall chart or run the computer program. An 
advantage of different roles is that asking for a different pay structures 
is easier.

It may be that we need a new series of roles with different training to 
nurses who are paid less whilst degree nurses are needed in less numbers 
but should be better rewarded. I am aware that some on this is already 
going on in hospitals but I think there is still mileage to be had. Equally 
as health care oppurtunities increase we may be able to maintain the need 
for present numbers but offer an expanded service.


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