Afc

paris2 · Mar 6, 2005

During signing of my new job decription there was a dispute between me and my line manager regarding the wording of some issues for eg:

my job decription stated: "to promote health eduction in client group attending ward/department" i agued here as i do not just "promote" but develop evidence based health education. This lead to another statment in my job description.

which stated "contribute to audit of the service and ensure quality is maintained" again i do not just contribute to this process, i develop audit/resarch tool and conduct audit/research independently. And thirdly in my job descritption it stated "actively contribute to formulating policies". Here i just do not contribute but review the policies and protocol that directly affecting my speciality.

So although no changes were made to my job descrition, i was told by my manager to add these items. We were told that we are allowed to add up to 4 items that we feel that we are doing that is not in our job descrition. Other argument was that i had more then 4 items to add but was not allowed.

By the way presently i am specialist nurse practitoner with BSc in nursing and hold Masters in my own speciality and on F grade.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2005

During signing of my new job decription there was a dispute between me and my line manager regarding the wording of some issues for eg:
my job decription stated: "to promote health eduction in client group attending ward/department" i agued here as i do not just "promote" but develop evidence based health education. This lead to another statment in my job description.
which stated "contribute to audit of the service and ensure quality is maintained" again i do not just contribute to this process, i develop audit/resarch tool and conduct audit/research independently. And thirdly in my job descritption it stated "actively contribute to formulating policies". Here i just do not contribute but review the policies and protocol that directly affecting my speciality.
So although no changes were made to my job descrition, i was told by my manager to add these items. We were told that we are allowed to add up to 4 items that we feel that we are doing that is not in our job descrition. Other argument was that i had more then 4 items to add but was not allowed.
By the way presently i am specialist nurse practitoner with BSc in nursing and hold Masters in my own speciality and on F grade.

You are far exceeding your job description sounds like you are doing a G grade role but they only have the money for an F. I dunno how things are going to work in AFC, but am presuming it was a bit like when grading came in you can fight with help of Unions to be put into different pay band. I hadn't heard that you are only allowed to make 4 changes to your job description, has anybody else?

donmurray · Mar 8, 2005

There are no restrictions on changes. the need is for you and your manager to reach an agreement on an accurate JD for your post. Whilst your qualifications are impressive, are they a requirement for the post which you hold? Otherwise they may not count. Does the JD reflect that post? If you are unhappy, talk to your union rep, and disagree with the JD. It will then have to be evaluated, unless you meet and agree to a changed one.

paris2 · Mar 8, 2005

There are no restrictions on changes. the need is for you and your manager to reach an agreement on an accurate JD for your post. Whilst your qualifications are impressive, are they a requirement for the post which you hold? Otherwise they may not count. Does the JD reflect that post? If you are unhappy, talk to your union rep, and disagree with the JD. It will then have to be evaluated, unless you meet and agree to a changed one.

Thanks

The dispute between me and my line manager was not related to with my impressive qualifiactions but it was regarding the wording of some issues that was my concerns. I am a specialist nurse practitioner, i do not just participate or contribute (as stated in my job description) but actively involved in review and development of a specific tools, protocols and policies. I am only one NP in my area of speciality so i do possess extensive knowledge and skills and research and audit play a big part of practice and i know what area of practice need be evaluated/audited.

karenG · Mar 9, 2005

Thanks
The dispute between me and my line manager was not related to with my impressive qualifiactions but it was regarding the wording of some issues that was my concerns. I am a specialist nurse practitioner, i do not just participate or contribute (as stated in my job description) but actively involved in review and development of a specific tools, protocols and policies. I am only one NP in my area of speciality so i do possess extensive knowledge and skills and research and audit play a big part of practice and i know what area of practice need be evaluated/audited.

Your JD should accurately reflect the job you do... thats why in my trust I am having to write mine!! cos there is only one of me!! its taking ages to get right. The KSF is based on the job description.. and its exactly that- the knowledge and skills needed to carry out the job. If you dont fit neatly into a slot- like me! then you have to go for job matching, at which point you will given a grade. Have you noticed that there is no mention of extended/supplementary prescibing? or advanced practice? and in the new consultation on extended prescribing they mention advanced practice... but the NMC is still struggling to define advanced practice!

interesting times we live in!

Karen

paris2 · Mar 13, 2005

Your JD should accurately reflect the job you do... thats why in my trust I am having to write mine!! cos there is only one of me!! its taking ages to get right. The KSF is based on the job description.. and its exactly that- the knowledge and skills needed to carry out the job. If you dont fit neatly into a slot- like me! then you have to go for job matching, at which point you will given a grade. Have you noticed that there is no mention of extended/supplementary prescibing? or advanced practice? and in the new consultation on extended prescribing they mention advanced practice... but the NMC is still struggling to define advanced practice!
interesting times we live in!
Karen

Thanks Karen

I know what you mean but in my JD there is a statment which states "undertake, perform and assess enhanced skills within the clinical area,

to improve the patients experince journey (ie venepuncture, cannulation, etc)". this meant according to my manager that everything i do is covered within this statement. For e.g i do nurse-led IV angiography clinic, nurse consent etc. So extended/supplementary prescibing would come under this too. Though i am not doing this at present time. It may be that this will be in PDP in future.

karenG · Mar 14, 2005

Thanks Karen
I know what you mean but in my JD there is a statment which states "undertake, perform and assess enhanced skills within the clinical area,
to improve the patients experince journey (ie venepuncture, cannulation, etc)". this meant according to my manager that everything i do is covered within this statement. For e.g i do nurse-led IV angiography clinic, nurse consent etc. So extended/supplementary prescibing would come under this too. Though i am not doing this at present time. It may be that this will be in PDP in future.

that sounds like a cop out on your managers part. my JD is now 14 pages long.. and extended supplementary prescribing is seperate. nurse led IV angiography clinic should be listed seperately (IMHO) .. is not the idea of a JD to inform as to the role you do?? so if you leave and someone replaces you.. they know what they have to do??? I know sometimes they are vague.... but I would have thought that a nurse led angiography clinic is fairly specialised? I couldnt do it!

is your job going to job matching??

AfC is fine.. until you have to get your manager to agree with your JD.. and they usually havent a clue!!

Karen

wensday, MSN, RN, APN, NP · Mar 24, 2005

This might seem a bit petty but I think I'm worth more money than they are giving me!!

I'm a newly qualified paeds nurse and am currently doing a year course/job thing which gives me a study day each week to learn more about neonates. The job is in a v big neonatal unit and I care for the most sick and smallest babies they have to give me experience. For instance, a 25 week gestation infant with bilateral IVHs, frequent pulmonary haemorrhages, vented, about 6 infusions going through, tons of other IVs inc. ABx and CDs, frequent resuscitation and on top of this parent reassurance as their babies slowly die. This is very normal for my working week.

I know I'm newly qualified but I'm doing this by myself.

Just got given a band 5 grade of £18,114. I think neonatal nursing is more specialised than this, even for a newly qualified.......what do you think?

rant over :rolleyes:

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2005

This might seem a bit petty but I think I'm worth more money than they are giving me!!
I'm a newly qualified paeds nurse and am currently doing a year course/job thing which gives me a study day each week to learn more about neonates. The job is in a v big neonatal unit and I care for the most sick and smallest babies they have to give me experience. For instance, a 25 week gestation infant with bilateral IVHs, frequent pulmonary haemorrhages, vented, about 6 infusions going through, tons of other IVs inc. ABx and CDs, frequent resuscitation and on top of this parent reassurance as their babies slowly die. This is very normal for my working week.
I know I'm newly qualified but I'm doing this by myself.
Just got given a band 5 grade of £18,114. I think neonatal nursing is more specialised than this, even for a newly qualified.......what do you think?
rant over

I know just where you are coming from but most of us nurses dont get paid what we are worth. I think you are doing an amazing job, most of nurses roles nowerdays are extended and specialised.

I have been an RN since 1992, I have numerous qualifications and a degree, I have also done part of my masters. I am always studying. I am a registered midwife. I work as a deputy ward manager, i help to manage a team of 20 nurses, and students and so on, and on and on and so forth and I earn

£23. 250, I cant even begin to tell you how much experience I have to offer.

I do say however that when i came into this profession, I never expected to be rich. I am rich however in my experiences, encounters and still have an enthusiasm for my profession that has never dimmed over the years.

I laugh on a daily basis and wouldnt change my job for anything.

wensday, MSN, RN, APN, NP · Mar 24, 2005

I know just where you are coming from but most of us nurses dont get paid what we are worth. I think you are doing an amazing job, most of nurses roles nowerdays are extended and specialised.
I have been an RN since 1992, I have numerous qualifications and a degree, I have also done part of my masters. I am always studying. I am a registered midwife. I work as a deputy ward manager, i help to manage a team of 20 nurses, and students and so on, and on and on and so forth and I earn
£23. 250, I cant even begin to tell you how much experience I have to offer.
I do say however that when i came into this profession, I never expected to be rich. I am rich however in my experiences, encounters and still have an enthusiasm for my profession that has never dimmed over the years.
I laugh on a daily basis and wouldnt change my job for anything.

It's just so annoying! I didn't come into this job for the money obviously and if it ever became just that then it wouldn't be the job for me anymore.

karenG · Mar 24, 2005

I dont think you are going to be alone in feeling like this! like Kay, I have enough qualifications to stop a truck... next stop will be a masters in respiratory medicine.. and I dont get paid anything like my worth!!

this whole AfC stuff reminds me of the last regrading episode... yes- I can remember back that far!! no-one then felt that they had been fairly graded and there was an exodus of staff.. including me!! I am feeling very cynical about the whole thing as in many ways it seems to be a way of downgrading us rather then rewarding us. As an NP I am saddened that the work I do is not recognised, that there is no 'reward' for the blood sweat and tears I spent doing the extended and supplementary prescribing course (in 12 wks- was I mad?)

think i better get off my soap box...........

Karen

paris2 · Dec 4, 2005

I have been placed on Band 7. This was after much dispute regarding my JD, but i stood by it and if they where going to give me band 6 then i was going to work to that band. That meant my effort into reserch and audits would have been stopped. That would have been a great loss.

So i say to everyone don't give up without a fight. At the end there is nothing to loose.