Thread by @RCNStudents

As representatives of student nurses, we are extremely concerned about the inaccurate information being reported regarding NQN pay.
We strongly refute the claim that NQNs have already seen a pay increase of 12% - because this is simply not true.
@RCNNQN #studentnurses #nhspayrise

There is already difficulty in filling the staff vacancies within our health service, and we believe that easily disproven lies such as this steers more away from the profession. It creates unnecessary pressure and highlights the nature of the toxic culture of politics.

Nursing has become an increasingly political profession, and it is a political choice that decides on the rate of remuneration for our NHS staff. People who have no idea what we go through as students and NQNs should not be given the platforms they are for sharing misinformation.

The pay of nursing staff should absolutely reflect the technical nature of contemporary nursing. It should reflect the professional responsibility that comes with the role.
The role of the nurse has changed drastically over the years, and it is time this was recognised.

Nursing is a safety-critical profession. We are taught to analyse and assess everything and implement interventions to improve safety.
We receive reports of student nurses being used to fill staffing gaps on wards, when they should be learning.

We already know that the nursing degree has a higher than average rate of attrition.

Because it’s an extremely difficult course. Managing assignments, clinical placements, studying new concepts, having to take part time work on top of all of this.

From my own personal experience, part time work is not enough to keep afloat financially during the course. So comes the choice - do I take that day shift and lose a day of studying, or do I use that day to study/complete an assignment?

So for @NadineDorries to outright skew the data, and involve figures for AfC bandings that NQNs most likely do not receive straight after registering, is simply typical of political misinformation.

Nurses have not had a pay rise. In real terms, we’ve had cuts for over a decade.