New Nurses in England: Many Unemployed

HARRN2b · Aug 3, 2006

This is exactly what has been discussed on another thread.

Demonsthenes · Aug 3, 2006

In the middle ages the aristocracy reigned in the UK and through out Europe. The aristocracy of old can be criticized for it's somewhat elitist attitude. However, it was considered inappropriate for aristocrats to take away the employment of even the lowliest citizen through out the middle ages. This paternalistic attitude, as I remember it, is embodied in that document of English and world liberties and rights, the Magna Charta, signed by King John in 1215 upon being compelled to do the same by the Magna Charta Barons.

The new capitalists have no such sense of duty to their workers under the doctrine of "noblesse oblige" in many instances. In the case of nursing both in the UK and the USA, this is certainly the case.

Now is the time for a new class of "Magna Charta Barons" to arise and to protect the rights of all workers, including nurses, in the UK and the USA from job insecurity and intolerable working conditions.

I am an American, an R.N., and a member of the Somerset Chapter Magna Charta Barons.

barbshortt · Aug 3, 2006

I am a U.S. RN who worked in England (London) 1999-2002 (my husband's job took us there). Nine of ten nurses in London were foreign-trained (mostly Malaysian, Australian, New Zealanders, South African....I was the only American in either of the 2 places I worked, one NHS one private). The pay was so abysmal that nurses could not afford to live in London on the wages. Most lived quite a way out and commuted in on train/bus/tube. Those who had been recruited to come over to work and were promised London housing as one of the perks were surprised to find themselves living in substandard unused nursing dorms from some bygone era, so far on the outskirts of the city that they still needed to travel in by the usual modes of transport (tube, bus, train). These nurses were often goven the most god-awful shifts - 12 nights on, 3 off....but because they were on contract, and far from home, there was little or no recourse. often, they would band together to move out of the nursing dorms to find some little flat closer to town - I knew one girl who lived in a 1 bedroom flat with 6 other nurses and their significant others! But, they weren't all there at the same time due to shift work and days off, and they were so happy to be out of the squalor of the dorms, there were no complaints.

Anyway, back to the topic....it seemed to me that most British nurses were not living in London, and not particularly happy with their jobs. They are treated poorly by the physicians (consultants, as they are called there), make a misearble salary, and are viewed upon by society as part of a larger service industry, and not professionals. I was happy to get back to the States - you may not think you are treated with respect here, but you have no idea....