Do you think nurses will get their payrise?

road_high · 09-01-2019 11:58pm

TCM wrote: »

In fact not so - less strikes now than in the past.

That’s because they’ve been continually bought off- strike: here’s your pay rise.
Worked over and over so that’s why they keep doing it. It’s effective as it holds the state to ransom

Edgware · 09-01-2019 11:59pm

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

I should go on strike myself?

I work for myself.

I have no job security.
Pension.
Union backing.
Job for life.
Guaranteed wage every week.
Lunch and breakfast breaks
Etc etc

I get on with it, but it seems PS workers need to be breastfed at every point of their lives.

And no doubt declare every cent you make

Lemonposset · 10-01-2019 12:04am

Alrigghtythen wrote: »

1483/fortnight, 741.50/week

How much do they want?

This is the upper limit of the scale. For the best trained nurse, they will pretty much not earn more than this unless they move into a management position, which reduces the number of nurses to care for patients further. The €50K figure is skewed by higher salaries paid to nurse managers. That managers earn higher salaries doesn't take away from the fact that nurses actively nursing deserve to be paid adequately. Nurses aren't asking to start out on €38K/year but they definitely want to be able to earn more than that as they progress.

It is a thankless job as reading through this thread makes obvious but guaranteed if someone you love ends up in an ICU bed tomorrow you will hang on that nurses every word & see how rarely she/he sits, how physical their job is, how knowlegeable they are. It is just another job and it isn't just another job.

Tell me how · 10-01-2019 12:08am

Lemonposset wrote: »

This is the upper limit of the scale. For the best trained nurse, they will pretty much not earn more than this unless they move into a management position, which reduces the number of nurses to care for patients further. The €50K figure is skewed by higher salaries paid to nurse managers. That managers earn higher salaries doesn't take away from the fact that nurses actively nursing deserve to be paid adequately. Nurses aren't asking to start out on €38K/year but they definitely want to be able to earn more than that as they progress.

I agree with the sentiment here, but, it is all nurses who are going on strike including those classed as managers, this means that should they be successful, the average will increase to just under 64K and while this might mean those on the ground are getting a wage reflective of their efforts, it also would mean more nursing management staff are, in my view, overpaid.

This is what I mean by the structure with respect to the number of nursing management staff is a problem and that should be something the nurses look to change as it is both inefficient and unsustainable.

Drifter50 · 10-01-2019 12:18am

Ninthlife wrote: »

So because you are self employed you dont take breaks..?

So nurses shouldnt be allowed breakfast or lunch

You chose self employment so you knew there was no guaranteed wage

Why bring these up as issues

Too many ridiculous statements being made here. Lots of us are forced into self employment after being let go by larger corporations when the age profile does`nt fit anymore and options are not available

Twenty Grand · 10-01-2019 12:20am

Drifter50 wrote: »

Too many ridiculous statements being made here. Lots of us are forced into self employment after being let go by larger corporations when the age profile does`nt fit anymore and options are not available

And lots of us realise we can make much more money self employed that working for the man.

Ninthlife · 10-01-2019 12:23am

Drifter50 wrote: »

Too many ridiculous statements being made here. Lots of us are forced into self employment after being let go by larger corporations when the age profile does`nt fit anymore and options are not available

Nothing ridiculous in my response to what one self employed person was stating.

Im not knocking the self employed but coming out with statements saying 'i dont get breaks cause im self employed' is nonsense

Tell me how · 10-01-2019 12:24am

Ninthlife wrote: »

Nothing ridiculous in my response to what one self employed person was stating.

Im not knocking the self employed but coming out with statements saying 'i dont get breaks cause im self employed' is nonsense

Plus, there are benefits to being self-employed.

If there weren't no one would do it.

trick · 10-01-2019 12:24am

MrMusician18 wrote: »

Extremely poor attitude. Urgently required medication not provided until after 7.5hrs after first presenting and after several times of asking and being rudely dismissed. I'd probably be waiting there still for medication if I didn't find the one nurse there that gave a ****.

Three patients, one with serious health complications was left all night without medication, requested several times of course.

That's not too mention the bickering between the nurses and junior doctors in front of the patients.

You could of course put this down to understaffing, and that is an issue. But the attitude of some of the nurses forgetting that they were dealing with very sick people, phoning it in, certainly made me question the caring narrative the unions paint. And that has nothing to do with pay or conditions. A lot of them really couldn't care less about you if they tried.

I’m not trying to justify anything you have said here but from the point of view of getting meds when in A&E. The docs need to prescribe them. Even if the patient is on them at home. There needs to be a prescription written up after the patient has been assessed by the doctor on duty. It is very frustrating for the nurses aswell when they know that a patient needs meds. The doctors are super busy aswell.
1 example doesn’t define the entire nursinr profession in Ireland. I’m sorry that you had a bad experience.
The other side of the coin is that there is a higher risk of medication error in A&E because of the high turnover of patients and so the nurses that you asked may not have been looking after your relative.

eagle eye · 10-01-2019 12:31am

Who here would like to be a nurse? I certainly wouldn't be able fir that job.
I think they deserve a pay rise.

road_high · 10-01-2019 12:38am

eagle eye wrote: »

Who here would like to be a nurse? I certainly wouldn't be able fir that job.
I think they deserve a pay rise.

I wouldn’t like to be a bus driver either...doesn't mean they all deserve a pay rise.
The beauty of a free labour market means people’s varied interests and skills can be matched to specific jobs and people are free to chose.
The country just can’t afford this carry on, we can’t afford to pay people based on emotions and fuzzy feelings

Tell me how · 10-01-2019 12:39am

road_high wrote: »

I wouldn’t like to be a bus driver either...doesn't mean they all deserve a pay rise.
The beauty of a free labour market means people’s varied interests and skills can be matched to specific jobs and people are free to chose

That is part of the argument some are making suggesting there needs to be a payrise.

We do not have enough nurses ergo, we need to attract more.

MrMusician18 · 10-01-2019 12:41am

trick wrote: »

I’m not trying to justify anything you have said here but from the point of view of getting meds when in A&E. The docs need to prescribe them. Even if the patient is on them at home. There needs to be a prescription written up after the patient has been assessed by the doctor on duty. It is very frustrating for the nurses aswell when they know that a patient needs meds. The doctors are super busy aswell.
1 example doesn’t define the entire nursinr profession in Ireland. I’m sorry that you had a bad experience.
The other side of the coin is that there is a higher risk of medication error in A&E because of the high turnover of patients and so the nurses that you asked may not have been looking after your relative.

The doctors prescription was sitting in the drug room for two hours. The nurses I asked were in my section, they were just going to get it "when I'm ready". Just one nurse seemed interested in assisting when asked, and in fairness did get the meds, two hours after being seen by the doctor and 7.5hrs after arrival. So much for presenting as an emergency needing urgent care.

Other experiences that night: The elderly gentleman next to me was left all night without his angina and cancer medication, despite repeated requests. And the elderly woman on the other side was left with no pain medication all night despite having a suspected fractured hip and none of the four of us were checked on at all overnight. The four of us could have been dead and the first anyone would have known about it was when the doctors did their rounds at 7am.

You can blame understaffing for a lot of things but you can't blame it for attitude or the bickering between the staff. And neither will increasing pay change the way things work. If a vet treated an animal the way people were treated in that A and E that night, you'd never go back.

trick · 10-01-2019 12:46am

MrMusician18 wrote: »

The doctors prescription was sitting in the drug room for two hours. The nurses I asked were in my section, they were just going to get it "when I'm ready". Just one nurse seemed interested in assisting when asked, and in fairness did get the meds, two hours after being seen by the doctor and 7.5hrs after arrival. So much for presenting as an emergency needing urgent care.

Other experiences that night: The elderly gentleman next to me was left all night without his angina and cancer medication, despite repeated requests. And the elderly woman on the other side was left with no pain medication all night despite having a suspected fractured hip and none of the four of us were checked on at all overnight. The four of us could have been dead and the first anyone would have known about it was when the doctors did their rounds at 7am.

You can blame understaffing for a lot of things but you can't blame it for attitude or the bickering between the staff. And neither will increasing pay change the way things work. If a vet treated an animal the way people were treated in that A and E that night, you'd never go back.

Have you complained to anyone about your care?
There is a designated person in the hospital that deals with complaints. Please make sure to contact them about your situation that night.
I have worked in A&E and I’ve been a patient in A&E and I know how frustrating it is to be on both sides. I can’t speak for what went on that night as I wasn’t there. If you weren’t checked all night that is something that needs to be brought to the attention of patient complaints because that isn’t right.

I’m all for threads like this on social media but if people aren’t advocating for themselves and making sure that they get the best care that they deserve then there is little point in starting the discussion on here at all.

I’m sorry again about your poor care when you were in A&E & I hope that you are recovering well

eagle eye · 10-01-2019 12:48am

road_high wrote:

I wouldnâ€™t like to be a bus driver either...doesn't mean they all deserve a pay rise. The beauty of a free labour market means peopleâ€™s varied interests and skills can be matched to specific jobs and people are free to chose. The country just canâ€™t afford this carry on, we canâ€™t afford to pay people based on emotions and fuzzy feelings

Not enough people in this country choose to work as nurses here. These nurses are working very hard to make up for the lack of staff. This is why I wouldn't want that job.
They deserve more money for what they do.

road_high · 10-01-2019 12:55am

eagle eye wrote: »

Not enough people in this country choose to work as nurses here. These nurses are working very hard to make up for the lack of staff. This is why I wouldn't want that job.
They deserve more money for what they do.

Where do you propose to take that money from?
Lower paid nurse salary can be looked at, but the problem with these ransoms is the higher paid ones will benefit equally and it’s very dubious as to whether they warrant raises- course they’re using the lower paid as canon fodder when the focus should be entirely on the lower paid entrants- that way the staff shortage could be tackled most effectively, if there’s an issue with initial recruitment and retention.
Salaries increases across the board are simply unaffordable, and not just in healthcare. If all these increases are granted we are storing up trouble again very soon, not long after we were last bankrupt.

eagle eye · 10-01-2019 1:01am

road_high wrote:

Where do you propose to take that money from? Lower paid nurse salary can be looked at, but the problem with these ransoms is the higher paid ones will benefit equally and itâ€™s very dubious as to whether they warrant raises- course theyâ€™re using the lower paid as canon fodder when the focus should be entirely on the lower paid entrants- that way the staff shortage could be tackled most effectively, if thereâ€™s an issue with initial recruitment and retention

Have you been in a hospital recently? Just have a look around and see how much work they are doing. It's non-stop for most of their shift.
All nurses deserve a pay rise.
Where does the money come from? How about we cut social welfare and give it to these hard working people?
I'm sure there are plenty of places to find the money. How about we don't reduce the USC and put that towards paying doctors and nurses?

eagle eye · 10-01-2019 1:03am

Also I hope none of you are scabs. Don't go passing a picket unless it's an emergency.

gctest50 · 10-01-2019 1:08am

eagle eye wrote: »

Also I hope none of you are scabs. Don't go passing a picket unless it's an emergency.

It's not a real strike, they are just pissy because :

The INMO has identified Xtra Nursing Agency as one of those offering at least 20% higher than public sector pay. It said the agency is also offering increments for nurses in their first five years of working.

Scottish Nursing Guild is also said to pay 20% more than the public sector wage.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said ”the public sector simply isn’t offering the going rate for the job. There is now a pay gap of 20% between staff doing the same work, at the same time, in the same hospital

https://www.thejournal.ie/midwives-nurses-4309347-Oct2018/

.

gctest50 · 10-01-2019 1:12am

Going on that, they just want their cake and eat it too

You wouldn't see them strike for better equipment

Sierra Oscar · 10-01-2019 1:12am

gctest50 wrote: »

It's not a real strike, they are just pissy because :

The INMO has identified Xtra Nursing Agency as one of those offering at least 20% higher than public sector pay. It said the agency is also offering increments for nurses in their first five years of working.

Scottish Nursing Guild is also said to pay 20% more than the public sector wage.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said ”the public sector simply isn’t offering the going rate for the job. There is now a pay gap of 20% between staff doing the same work, at the same time, in the same hospital

https://www.thejournal.ie/midwives-nurses-4309347-Oct2018/

It does seem a little mad that the HSE is forced to spend millions hiring agency nurses due to a difficulty in retaining nurses in the public sector. Over €100m was spent on hiring agency staff last year alone. Perhaps if young nurses were paid a decent wage they might be inclined to enter the public sector and stay in Ireland after qualifying? What purpose does it serve the Government to encourage nurses to take up agency work due to better pay and conditions in the private sector when the HSE ends up having to hire agency nurses due to staff shortages in the public sector?

Sardonicat · 10-01-2019 1:13am

eagle eye wrote: »

road_high wrote:

Where do you propose to take that money from? Lower paid nurse salary can be looked at, but the problem with these ransoms is the higher paid ones will benefit equally and itâ€™s very dubious as to whether they warrant raises- course theyâ€™re using the lower paid as canon fodder when the focus should be entirely on the lower paid entrants- that way the staff shortage could be tackled most effectively, if thereâ€™s an issue with initial recruitment and retention

Have you been in a hospital recently? Just have a look around and see how much work they are doing. It's non-stop for most of their shift.
All nurses deserve a pay rise.
Where does the money come from? How about we cut social welfare and give it to these hard working people?
I'm sure there are plenty of places to find the money. How about we don't reduce the USC and put that towards paying doctors and nurses?

I don't support the idea of having my carer's allowance cut to pay the nurses moreoney to work in a broken system, thank you very much.

Paying them more will not decrease their workload or improve their working conditions orale things easier for people on trolleys in A and E.

Twenty Grand · 10-01-2019 1:19am

eagle eye wrote: »

Have you been in a hospital recently? Just have a look around and see how much work they are doing. It's non-stop for most of their shift.
All nurses deserve a pay rise.
Where does the money come from? How about we cut social welfare and give it to these hard working people?
I'm sure there are plenty of places to find the money. How about we don't reduce the USC and put that towards paying doctors and nurses?

Listen Paschal, it's your job to do the sums and make this work, don't be looking for tips on how to run the department here.

Lefty Bicek · 10-01-2019 1:38am

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

Nurses chose this job knowing what it’s like.

Why should they bring their issues up??????????

They're not moaning about you, though, are they ?

gctest50 · 10-01-2019 2:29am

eagle eye wrote: »

Also I hope none of you are scabs. Don't go passing a picket unless it's an emergency.

Siptu nurses will not join their colleagues in strike action over pay

Siptu has said its members in nursing will not follow their colleagues in other unions in striking over pay increases.

https://amp.breakingnews.ie/ireland/siptu-nurses-will-not-join-their-colleagues-in-strike-action-over-pay-896601.html

Alrigghtythen · 10-01-2019 8:15am

eagle eye wrote: »

Have you been in a hospital recently?

Yes

eagle eye wrote: »

Just have a look around and see how much work they are doing. It's non-stop for most of their shift.

That's not what I witnessed

Wheeliebin30 · 10-01-2019 8:22am

eagle eye wrote: »

Have you been in a hospital recently? Just have a look around and see how much work they are doing. It's non-stop for most of their shift.
All nurses deserve a pay rise.
Where does the money come from? How about we cut social welfare and give it to these hard working people?
I'm sure there are plenty of places to find the money. How about we don't reduce the USC and put that towards paying doctors and nurses?

It’s non stop for most of their shift?

So basically they are working the whole time in their job and been paid for it?

Well I’m shocked at the mere thought of that.

cruizer101 · 10-01-2019 9:37am

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

It’s non stop for most of their shift?

So basically they are working the whole time in their job and been paid for it?

Well I’m shocked at the mere thought of that.

From talking to a midwife I know she on a fairly regular basis does not get to take her breaks which she does not get paid for so is in effect working for free for that time. Also often has to stay back after the end of her shift for extra time for handover, again not paid for.

Also non-stop could mean on their feet for 13 hours, yes they are being paid to work but there is no denying it can be quite intensive work for a long day and yes I know they knew that before they signed up bu that doesn't mean they shouldn't be fairly compensated for the work they do.

Wheeliebin30 · 10-01-2019 9:46am

cruizer101 wrote: »

From talking to a midwife I know she on a fairly regular basis does not get to take her breaks which she does not get paid for so is in effect working for free for that time. Also often has to stay back after the end of her shift for extra time for handover, again not paid for.

Also non-stop could mean on their feet for 13 hours, yes they are being paid to work but there is no denying it can be quite intensive work for a long day and yes I know they knew that before they signed up bu that doesn't mean they shouldn't be fairly compensated for the work they do.

3rd highest paid in Europe??

Padraig Mor · 10-01-2019 9:58am

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

It does seem a little mad that the HSE is forced to spend millions hiring agency nurses due to a difficulty in retaining nurses in the public sector. Over €100m was spent on hiring agency staff last year alone. Perhaps if young nurses were paid a decent wage they might be inclined to enter the public sector and stay in Ireland after qualifying? What purpose does it serve the Government to encourage nurses to take up agency work due to better pay and conditions in the private sector when the HSE ends up having to hire agency nurses due to staff shortages in the public sector?

It makes perfect sense - agency nurses may get more into their pockets, but the HSE isn't tied into even more permanent contracts (on top of already having more nurses per capita than pretty much everywhere else) with associated pension payments etc, as well as being insulated from the abuse of sick leave rampant among nurses. Essentially, it's cheaper for the HSE to pay agency nurses more!

ELM327 · 10-01-2019 10:22am

eagle eye wrote: »

Have you been in a hospital recently? Just have a look around and see how much work they are doing. It's non-stop for most of their shift.
All nurses deserve a pay rise.
Where does the money come from? How about we cut social welfare and give it to these hard working people?
I'm sure there are plenty of places to find the money. How about we don't reduce the USC and put that towards paying doctors and nurses?

I'm always in favour of cutting social welfare and giving more to people who work (and in the case of nurses work very hard) for it, so a massive +1 to that from me!

eagle eye wrote: »

Also I hope none of you are scabs. Don't go passing a picket unless it's an emergency.

This attitude is very prevalent in Ireland and I hate it. It's not your problem if someone is striking, if you want to avail of a state service then you avail of it regardless.

Bubbaclaus · 10-01-2019 10:25am

Give them the payrise but in return they should slowly withdraw the cushy public sector pension and let them join a private one like most the rest of the country.

Twenty Grand · 10-01-2019 10:27am

Lots of begrudgery in this thread...

ebbsy · 10-01-2019 10:29am

Give them whatever they want.

And that €57k average salary figure is probably bull****.

Pay them properly and more will come back.

road_high · 10-01-2019 10:47am

ebbsy wrote: »

Give them whatever they want.

And that €57k average salary figure is probably bull****.

Pay them properly and more will come back.

I just despair when I read these comments- the nation is limited in what it can pay any public servant- where do you think the money comes from to pay “whatever they want”?
So many of the Irish populace are clearly finicially illiterate and it presents a massive problem politically

road_high · 10-01-2019 10:51am

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

3rd highest paid in Europe??

Is this true? Couple that with one of the highest nurse to population ratios also it’s clear there’s something very wrong in how they are working.
We are told they work non stop on a shift- yet we still have chaos in the hospitals. Something just doesn’t comport here

road_high · 10-01-2019 11:14am

Twenty Grand wrote: »

Lots of begrudgery in this thread...

No there’s realism and hard questions being asked. No one begrudges nurses or deny some of them work hard in difficult circumstances.
The country’s finances are just about threading water. We still pay the penal USC (a tax on top of a tax). Someone has to call a halt at some point and ask what’s going on with public pay and productivity

Twenty Grand · 10-01-2019 11:53am

road_high wrote: »

No there’s realism and hard questions being asked. No one begrudges nurses or deny some of them work hard in difficult circumstances.
The country’s finances are just about threading water. We still pay the penal USC (a tax on top of a tax). Someone has to call a halt at some point and ask what’s going on with public pay and productivity

As I said before, our tax money is wasted in the billions each year.

I'd much prefer to see it going to wages than some quango or the box of shamrocks Leo brings to the US each year

road_high · 10-01-2019 12:01pm

Twenty Grand wrote: »

As I said before, our tax money is wasted in the billions each year.

I'd much prefer to see it going to wages than some quango or the box of shamrocks Leo brings to the US each year

All public spending bares scrutiny. Like them or loath them we need to have a govt and they don’t work for free either.
Billions are wasted, doesn’t mean we should continue doing the same

Mad_maxx · 10-01-2019 12:11pm

road_high wrote: »

Is this true? Couple that with one of the highest nurse to population ratios also it’s clear there’s something very wrong in how they are working.
We are told they work non stop on a shift- yet we still have chaos in the hospitals. Something just doesn’t comport here

Unions given foot massages in the media instead of tough questioning, intended propoganda gets out loud and uninterrupted

eagle eye · 10-01-2019 12:14pm

What is prsi spent on these days?

10-01-2019 12:21pm

eagle eye wrote: »

Also I hope none of you are scabs. Don't go passing a picket unless it's an emergency.

Are you taking the p1ss?

Tell me how · 10-01-2019 12:32pm

Twenty Grand wrote: »

Lots of begrudgery in this thread...

Where? Please point it out in this post.

Many nurses on the wards and A&E departments countrywide work extremely hard in very difficult environments.
I think they should be paid accordingly for this.
Not every nurse is florence nightingale simply because of human nature.
We are told the average nurse earnings is 57k per annum.
If so, I think the nurses are paid more than adequately.
If the average earnings is skewed because of managers, that is a problem.
If there are too many nursing managers, the nurses themselves should look to change this.
Nurses are public sector workers and are already operating within and agreed pay deal.
Nurses need to recognize that their job permanency and pension entitlements is a very advantageous element of their employment.
We cannot use money to hide inefficiencies in the system.

Please tell me where I am wrong in this.

If this was a thread on guards, teachers etc I would be equally resistant to just throwing money at a problem. There is no question but that nurses should be better paid than Luas drivers but the averages we have been told about indicate that they are.

road_high · 10-01-2019 12:48pm

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Unions given foot massages in the media instead of tough questioning, intended propoganda gets out loud and uninterrupted

The odd one that dares question them is vilified- Ivan Yeats and Pat Kenny usually don't let the union propaganda flow freely.
It's a very dangerous place we're in. Public finances are not in rude health and any downturn could hit them very hard indeed. Then it's back to more cuts and austerity.

eagle eye · 10-01-2019 1:08pm

Strawberry Milkshake wrote:

Are you taking the p1ss?

Why would I be joking?

Tell me how · 10-01-2019 1:13pm

eagle eye wrote: »

Why would I be joking?

Because the wages of the public sector are funded in part by the tax revenue from all workers.
Many, as you can see on this thread, are dubious about the entitlement of the nurses pay claims.

You are suggesting that we all ignore our opinions on the matter and give credence to the nurses actions so as to help them win.

Use of the term 'scab' is a deliberate attempt to cow those that might have a different opinion to those striking.

Not every strike is unwarranted, but, I have not seen any evidence yet to convince me outright that this is justified.

And, lets be clear, I am coming from a position where I want to be convinced because I see the impact nurses have on people in very trying circumstances. I want them to feel rewarded for their duties. But, if they are getting €57k for that, I can also feel that that is adequate payment.

Yillan · 10-01-2019 1:45pm

Staff nurses start on 29k and over 13 years make their way up to 45.7k.

That's the nurse that you meet when you go into A&E. The nurse who triages you and checks your vital signs regularly. Who draws up and gives you your medication. Who realises through experience that you are getting sicker, or that something has changed with your condition and tells the doctor. Who comforts you after you've been given bad news. Who will lift you up the bed when you've been doing your best to slide down the end of it. Who works 13 hour days. Whose roster bears no relation to the 9-5. Who can disagree with a doctor and isn't reluctant to question their decision for your benefit, even if it means they run the risk of being embarrassed. Who cannot afford to make a mistake on a medication dosage or calculation because it could mean they kill the patient.

I don't have any interest in the 'average' pay of nurses. They don't want their salary doubled. They want it brought more in line with the OTs and the Physios (35-52k over 13 years) . Try to get some occupational therapy after 5pm on a Thursday in your local ED while a nurse is putting a cast on you and hassling a doctor to chart you some pain relief, while looking after another 5 patients, who are among the sickest in the country. Then try to resolve in your head this idea that one should be paid more than the other.

It is a difficult, emotionally draining, cerebral job that should be paid better to reward those who are working in the HSE and attract talent back from overseas.

Geuze · 10-01-2019 1:49pm

eagle eye wrote: »

What is prsi spent on these days?

PRSI is spent on social insurance benefits.

State Pensions
IP = invalidty pension
IB = illness benefit
JSB = jobseekers benefit

etc.

Geuze · 10-01-2019 1:51pm

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

3rd highest paid in Europe??

I'd say most workers, in most sectors here, are among the top paid in Europe.

Tell me how · 10-01-2019 1:52pm

Yillan wrote: »

Staff nurses start on 29k and over 13 years make their way up to 45.7k.

That's the nurse that you meet when you go into A&E. The nurse who triages you and checks your vital signs regularly. Who draws up and gives you your medication. Who realises through experience that you are getting sicker, or that something has changed with your condition and tells the doctor. Who comforts you after you've been given bad news. Who will lift you up the bed when you've been doing your best to slide down the end of it. Who works 13 hour days. Whose roster bears no relation to the 9-5. Who can disagree with a doctor and isn't reluctant to question their decision for your benefit, even if it means they run the risk of being embarrassed. Who cannot afford to make a mistake on a medication dosage or calculation because it could mean they kill the patient.

I don't have any interest in the 'average' pay of nurses. They don't want their salary doubled. They want it brought more in line with the OTs and the Physios (35-52k over 13 years) . Try to get some occupational therapy after 5pm on a Thursday in your local ED while a nurse is putting a cast on you and hassling a doctor to chart you some pain relief, while looking after another 5 patients, who are among the sickest in the country. Then try to resolve in your head this idea that one should be paid more than the other.

It is a difficult, emotionally draining, cerebral job that should be paid better to reward those who are working in the HSE and attract talent back from overseas.

I don't know how we can ignore the average pay.

If those that deserve it most aren't getting it, then it means that many who don't deserve it are. This should be something the nurses themselves should be looking at and suggesting change or else they are asking us (the public) to pay for the inefficiencies.

Do you think nurses will get their payrise?

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