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18/07/2007
Nurses’ morale 'at ten year low'
Morale amongst nurses is at a ten year low, a new survey by the Royal College of Nursing has shown.
The 'Holding On' survey showed that optimism over job security, career progression and training are at their lowest levels since 1997.
More than half of nurses (55%) felt that they were 'too busy' to provide the care they would like - an increase from 47% in 2005.
The survey also found that more than a quarter of all nurses are still forced to take a second job to make ends meet, while 87% of nurses felt that they are poorly paid in relation to other professions.
Over the last two years, fear of redundancy amongst nurses has jumped from 7% in 2005 to 35% in 2007, while the number of those surveyed who felt that nursing offered a secure job has fallen by more than half, from 71% in 2005 to 34% in 2007, the survey showed.
Less than half those surveyed said that they would recommend nursing as a career, while one in four surveyed said that they would leave nursing if they could and even fewer said that they were satisfied with their jobs or felt that their work was valued.
The survey also showed that the amount of time nurses spent on continuing professional development (CPD) had now dropped to seven days, compared to eleven days in 2005, with 45% saying that they were unable to take time off for training - a decrease from 55% in 2005.
The RCN attributed the fall in CPD on the slashing of training budgets.
However, despite the falling morale, the survey found that 58% of all those surveyed worked longer hours than they were contracted for. Nurses working full-time were found to work an average of 44 hours per week, seven more than their contracted hours.
RCN General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said: "To have such a large part of the nursing workforce genuinely worried about the security of their employment is simply unacceptable. Despite feeling undervalued, underpaid and under threat our nurses continue to put in the hours and dedication to deliver high quality patient care.
"In the week that nurses are receiving ballot papers on proposed industrial action this survey demonstrates to the government that nurses' goodwill is at breaking point."
(KMcA)
The 'Holding On' survey showed that optimism over job security, career progression and training are at their lowest levels since 1997.
More than half of nurses (55%) felt that they were 'too busy' to provide the care they would like - an increase from 47% in 2005.
The survey also found that more than a quarter of all nurses are still forced to take a second job to make ends meet, while 87% of nurses felt that they are poorly paid in relation to other professions.
Over the last two years, fear of redundancy amongst nurses has jumped from 7% in 2005 to 35% in 2007, while the number of those surveyed who felt that nursing offered a secure job has fallen by more than half, from 71% in 2005 to 34% in 2007, the survey showed.
Less than half those surveyed said that they would recommend nursing as a career, while one in four surveyed said that they would leave nursing if they could and even fewer said that they were satisfied with their jobs or felt that their work was valued.
The survey also showed that the amount of time nurses spent on continuing professional development (CPD) had now dropped to seven days, compared to eleven days in 2005, with 45% saying that they were unable to take time off for training - a decrease from 55% in 2005.
The RCN attributed the fall in CPD on the slashing of training budgets.
However, despite the falling morale, the survey found that 58% of all those surveyed worked longer hours than they were contracted for. Nurses working full-time were found to work an average of 44 hours per week, seven more than their contracted hours.
RCN General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said: "To have such a large part of the nursing workforce genuinely worried about the security of their employment is simply unacceptable. Despite feeling undervalued, underpaid and under threat our nurses continue to put in the hours and dedication to deliver high quality patient care.
"In the week that nurses are receiving ballot papers on proposed industrial action this survey demonstrates to the government that nurses' goodwill is at breaking point."
(KMcA)
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NHS to no longer recruit junior foreign nurses
The NHS should no longer hire junior nurses from abroad, the government has announced. The role of Band 5 nurses is to be taken off the Home Office shortage occupation list. The role had been on the list in order to support international recruitment where NHS trusts have been unable to fill vacancies using UK or EEA trained staff.
NHS to no longer recruit junior foreign nurses
The NHS should no longer hire junior nurses from abroad, the government has announced. The role of Band 5 nurses is to be taken off the Home Office shortage occupation list. The role had been on the list in order to support international recruitment where NHS trusts have been unable to fill vacancies using UK or EEA trained staff.
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