Thinking of moving to UK

misswoosie · May 17, 2007

OK -I understand exactly how AFC worked-by trying to fit job descriptions to the national profiles. I actually wrote my own job description, painstakingly over 3 months. The problem was that I was not given the appropriate points for the information contained in my job description. I was an Anticoagulant clinical nurse specialist ,part of a team of 4 nurses managing 1800 outpatients on warfarin as well as manging all IP anticoagulation and diagnosing and treating patients with DVT in A/E. We had open access contact for patients to phone us at any time so were frequently interupted whilst dosing patients on the computer database, and Doctors would frequently call for advice ,as would DNs and GPs. An example was that I was given a score of 2 for mental effort-the same as the pathology porter. I had 11 points less than a band 7-that speaks volumes

I notice that you have not received your banding and wonder why that is?

I wish that people would not assume that when we are feeling undervalued because of our AFC bands we did not know what was involved or didn't check our job descriptions. I was one of the people who voted against AFC.

The system was subjective-how do you measure terms like "often, complex, frequently and distressing"? these are subjective words.

We have 2 nurse consultants who put in exactly the same job description. They were matched by 2 different panels and 1 received 8a, the other 8b. I arrest my case

allnurses Guide · May 18, 2007

OK I notice that you have not received your banding and wonder why that is?

Because in wales we a a bit slower and I hvae only just completed my JAQ.

It sounds as if you have been treated really unfairly and if in your shoes (which I may well be when my JAQ outcome arrives) I am sure my view of my job will change but as I said I can only speak from my experience which so far has been very good. That may well be becuase of where I have worked and luck. I have been involved in setting up a few welsh government funded units so the staffing and funding are good, i have progressed fairly quickly and been really lucky with the jobs that I have got, although I have worked really hard studying to make sure I was qualified to get the higher grade jobs which helped because I was able to ask for higher grades.

As I say it may well chage when I get my JAQ outcome:uhoh3: :uhoh3:

Tanvi Tusti · May 18, 2007

Hey!
I can so no way on Gods earth how you can compare The North Of England to USA. And lets face it- the NHS is a mess. I do not understand how someone who is a Modern Matron can reccomend nursing here IF ,and that is IF, staffing levels, levels of cleanliness etc are similar to the hospital I work in. We do not value nurses in this country. What percentage of nurses are actually on band 7s or 8s? I was a clinical nurse specialist (G grade)and was given a band 6 for my efforts.

I am not in any way comparing the US to the north of England, Im just saying that in my situation and where I would have gone to in the States I would be financially worse off.

Anyway, who are you to comment about the US being better than the UK? From what I can gather you've only visited twice and "fell in love with the place". I at least am coming from a more informed vantage point having lived there on and off for three years, married to an American for more than five years, have umpteen relatives there, 2 dogs and a cat there and virtually half my life in a storage unit there.

I have experienced many different places and ways of working and still hold by what I say.

Belinda-wales, RN · May 21, 2007

Here is my 2cents- for what it is worth!

People are driving me mad why oh why do people conver there uk wage in to $ when comparing wages it is not right!

When living in the states and earning the $ = pound- let me explain the cost of living is the same all your bills etc wotrk out the same uk v usa!

If you come on holiday or are using your british wage then convert it but when earning the $ it is the same.

So for example cost of a meal out in uk is 30 pounds meal out usa 30 $ same price for the meal -ready for this in the uk you earn 25,000 and in usa you earn 50,000 so you have twice as much money left when you live in the states! and dont for get you made for all the over time you work in the USA- I am not saying that on is better than the other I am explaining when living in the states you earn more money so to earn 50,000 in the UK- if you live and spend in the uk- is not the same as earning 100,000 in the states if you live and earn here!:monkeydance:

english_nurse · May 21, 2007

so out of curiousity, just how much is 2 cents worth in english money????

any chance of you running that by me again???

pmsl

dont forget you love me really bel :blushkiss

and i love you

Belinda-wales, RN · May 21, 2007

so out of curiousity, just how much is 2 cents worth in english money????
any chance of you running that by me again ???

I honestly belive that I am begining to lose my mind!

english_nurse · May 21, 2007

awww belinda

:smackingf

:1luvu:

will msn ya wen stupid internet decides to work properley

Tanvi Tusti · May 22, 2007

Here is my 2cents- for what it is worth!
People are driving me mad why oh why do people conver there uk wage in to $ when comparing wages it is not right!
When living in the states and earning the $ = pound- let me explain the cost of living is the same all your bills etc wotrk out the same uk v usa!
If you come on holiday or are using your british wage then convert it but when earning the $ it is the same.
So for example cost of a meal out in uk is 30 pounds meal out usa 30 $ same price for the meal -ready for this in the uk you earn 25,000 and in usa you earn 50,000 so you have twice as much money left when you live in the states! and dont for get you made for all the over time you work in the USA- I am not saying that on is better than the other I am explaining when living in the states you earn more money so to earn 50,000 in the UK- if you live and spend in the uk- is not the same as earning 100,000 in the states if you live and earn here!:monkeydance:

I am just saying that when we live in the states (dependant obviously on the area) we have less free income than we do when living in the UK. This isn't so obvious in Seattle, where our apartment was $740 a month, health insurance just short of $400 a month and hubby had earnings of just under $900 every 2 weeks, but certainly in the Bay area, where our apartment was $1300 a month and hubbys take home pay was just over $950 every two weeks then yes we were way worse off in terms of free available income, just like here in Oz we have less disposable cash. doesn't mean the quality of life is any worse, just means we have less free money to spend in our spare time.

If you take it down to brass tacks, then the place were we (and I say we, not the entire population) have the most free cash, then it has to be the UK.

Belinda-wales, RN · May 23, 2007

I am just saying that when we live in the states (dependant obviously on the area) we have less free income than we do when living in the UK.

This is not what you said yoiu converted your current wage in to usa $ and tried to say you were earning more now or in the UK than an USA Nurse which is wrong as I have explained. When did you work in the US as a nurse may be the wages have gone up- But I can state a an UK nurse who worked for over 20yrs in the uk that I an now working in the USA and I am earning wice as much so is my husband we have loads more free money here in the uk my Husaband was band 8 and I was top of band 6.

As for medical insurance we have got good insurance that covers the whole family which costs us less than NI.

This is my true experience living and working in the usa!

RGN1 · May 23, 2007

so out of curiousity, just how much is 2 cents worth in english money????
any chance of you running that by me again???
pmsl
dont forget you love me really bel :blushkiss
and i love you

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: EN you are BAD!!! :lol2: - Funny though! Thanks for making smile today!

Also thanks Belinda for putting a perspective on this. iT really is cost of living and how far your wage goes as opposed to actually monetary units. Here 50% of what we earn goes in some kind of tax - seen or unseen. 50% of not a lot is very, very little left!!

On another kind of related note I have to say the modern matrons I've dealt with are no more than glorified bed managers & when we were under severe pressure & needed help they didn't want to know so to hear they're being paid that much quite frankly sucks!!!!

PLEASE NOTE I am in NO WAY casting aspersions on those of you who do a great job but I have to say in the Trust where I worked in the Medical directorate (for all I know the surgical ones were good - I can't comment) they were a waste of space, time & money. It is unbelievable that the clip-board wielding brigade earned double what I was getting for their 9-5 cushy jobs - & trust me I shadowed them for a couple of shifts during orientation so I did see what they did & it wasn't much!

Most people form their opinions on what they experience & what I experienced has not left me with any positive attitude towards them. So modern matrons feel free to let me know what you do that enhances your area so I can change my opinion by all means. Mind you you'd better start a new thread because otherwise this will be a hijack - I'm good at that

misswoosie · May 23, 2007

I am not in any way comparing the US to the north of England, Im just saying that in my situation and where I would have gone to in the States I would be financially worse off.
Anyway, who are you to comment about the US being better than the UK? From what I can gather you've only visited twice and "fell in love with the place". I at least am coming from a more informed vantage point having lived there on and off for three years, married to an American for more than five years, have umpteen relatives there, 2 dogs and a cat there and virtually half my life in a storage unit there.
I have experienced many different places and ways of working and still hold by what I say.

Don't know where you got your facts from

"From what I can gather you've only visited twice and "fell in love with the place". We (my family and I) have visited NC 8 times in the last 3 years and now own a home there-which we have visited twice since we bought it last year.In the past I have visited 6 other states in the US over the past 25 years. Perhaps you have a less than balanced view of both the US and the North of England- having spent time living in California with a high cost of living, and earning a maxi salary in the UK . Unfortunately in nursing in the UK it is the managers who are rewarded with the higher pay. Those nurses that have worked hard to get excellent clinical skills and knowledge don't fair so well infortunately. It shows little compassion for your fellow nurses to boast about a salary that is way above what the average nurse is earning because there are a very limited number of jobs at this level,usually in management.

I am far better qualified to offer an opinion about the North east of England having lived here for most of my life.

Sounds like you're having difficulty settling anywhere if half your in a storage unit in the US or maybe that's just me jumping to conclusions

allnurses Guide · May 23, 2007

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: EN you are BAD!!! - Funny though! Thanks for making smile today!
Also thanks Belinda for putting a perspective on this. iT really is cost of living and how far your wage goes as opposed to actually monetary units. Here 50% of what we earn goes in some kind of tax - seen or unseen. 50% of not a lot is very, very little left!!
On another kind of related note I have to say the modern matrons I've dealt with are no more than glorified bed managers & when we were under severe pressure & needed help they didn't want to know so to hear they're being paid that much quite frankly sucks!!!!
PLEASE NOTE I am in NO WAY casting aspersions on those of you who do a great job but I have to say in the Trust where I worked in the Medical directorate (for all I know the surgical ones were good - I can't comment) they were a waste of space, time & money. It is unbelievable that the clip-board wielding brigade earned double what I was getting for their 9-5 cushy jobs - & trust me I shadowed them for a couple of shifts during orientation so I did see what they did & it wasn't much!
Most people form their opinions on what they experience & what I experienced has not left me with any positive attitude towards them. So modern matrons feel free to let me know what you do that enhances your area so I can change my opinion by all means. Mind you you'd better start a new thread because otherwise this will be a hijack - I'm good at that

We don't have modern matrons in Wales and again I must stress that I can only speak from my own experience. I work in a senior role on a surgical unit I cover all of the general surgical wards in one hospital. Even though my role is managment I have refused to give up the clinical bits of nursing and to be honest it was a condition of me taking the job because it could quite easily have been an office based clipboard weilding job. Part of my role is to sort of staffing shortages on the wards which I try to do by looking at all the wards to see what I can find. Usually nothing and in cases when there is no bank nurse available I can and will suppliment the establishments by working on the wards. I also spend alot of time trying to liase between EU and the wards to prevent long waits in EU pushing the staff to enforce trolleys on wards policy, this could be seen as bed managment but if to do this I need to do a nursing admission (or medical clerking as I am a nurse practitioner) take bloods, push trolleys to xray to speed treatment then I will and do.

I hope what I do in a small way helps to improve conditions for both staff and patients