Why do nurses get such low pay?

Question

First of all, to all nurses- give yourself a big hand! Whether you work in mental health or on a cancer ward I just don't know how you do it. I've been unfortunate enough to see you in action and without you, there would be no hope for millions of people. I find it despicable that you are so poorly paid and generally treated by the NHS, why is this?

Answer 1

The NHS spends too much money on unneeded administration costs, therefore, no money for nurses, our nurses deserve more, is anyone reading this from the NHS? If they are, give our nurses the wages they deserve, they are wonderful people

Answer 2

The problem goes back to the early 1970's. A report commissioned to take nursing forward was produced. The Salmon report. This took the highest qualified sisters and nurses and made them numbers. In other words removed them from the ward and made them managers. This started the trend of employing more and more managers at high rates of pay leaving very little in the pot for nurses. The last 9 years under Blair has got worse. The problems with targets is managing them. So another layer of managers to dip in the pot. I worked in the health service many years ago. The nurses are just great. How is it that agency nurses are paid far more? It would be better to pay our nurses more. Get rid of targets, so many managers and outside contractors. Food and cleaning is done by outside companies who want profit for shareholders another dip in the pot. The basics are all wrong the emphasis on targets and paper trails removes the reason for the health service people. Nurses deserve a lot more under labour you would expect it how wrong we were.

Answer 3

Agreed for such a wonderful and important profession, nurses are badly paid. As to why, it is all about cash management and how our government directs the money from the taxation purse. Funds are spread thin across many genuinely needy areas and so public sector workers such as nurses (and teachers) generally come out a-wanting. It is a balancing act. Quick fix answer: higher taxes to direct more to improve health care, wages for nurses etc, but then no-one really wants higher taxes. So, no happy ending to the story

Answer 4

As a former RN, I have seen/heard this issue discussed over the years.
One of the reasons that has been brought up time and again is that nursing is a predominately female profession and historically, women are paid less. (I am not a feminist, but...). More men are entering the nursing profession and pay rates are improving.
In addition, nurses have been reluctant to ask for more money-being told that helping people is a reward.
And thank you for caring about this issue! Nurses everywhere like being appreciated.

Answer 5

Could this be the result of nationalized health care?
Nurses in the US are paid very well. The downside is that American medicine is very expensive. So expensive that it is possible for Americans to travel to India for major surgeries and still have substantial money left over when they return. Some companies in the US are giving their employees this option as a way to save on health care. The culprit for these high costs is not the wages though. Pharmaceutical companies and medical equipment manufactures are raping us for profits.
Nurses are the front line in western medicine. The doctors would be lost without them. They do deserve our praise. I would not be surprised to see American medicine outsourced like so many other sectors of business and government as we continue to see our economy crushed. I just wonder who is going to buy all of those trinkets from China when all is said and done.

Answer 6

The old say so, OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID
I really don't know, why they pay us not enough or should say better.
It is not much better in my Home Country Germany.
But pay should be adjusted to your experiences and years of work. Everybody is complaining about the rising cost in HEALTH CARE but truly we NURSE and other HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS are not the reason why.
And there is a big difference if you work in a For Profit ,Non Profit,Private and the State you work in.
But I love my Profession
Nurse from Iowa

Answer 7

Hope you are now well, Frank.
Fear not, most of us older and wiser ones are leaving the NHS in droves, leaving the young university know-alls to get on with it.
There are easier ways of earning a living in industry and GP practices - better hours, few weekends, no sh1tty shift patterns, fighting over holiday slots. The NHS even ban holiday over Xmas and New Year now! It goes on.
Good luck to anyone needing hospital care.......

Answer 8

Because (here in Britain) the Government know they've got nurses over a barrel - they're commited to what they do and won't go on strike. That's why they get paid a pittance. When you think about what politicians pay themselves and "entertainers" and yobbo footballers are paid, it makes you sick.

Answer 9

Because the government give all the money to the people who are taking shelter in this country from their own countries. In my area there are several hospitals where alot of them are being closed down due to funding. it is getting worse. my mum is a sister on intensive care and my sister is training currently at uni to be a nurse

Answer 10

Why should they? They are paid above average anyway.
Nurses are paid to "nurse" people, a semi-skilled job.
It's the same old b**l*cks like the firemen, if you wanted to earn more money you should have studied harder and become a doctor, stop bloody whinging!!