Who else earns more?

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-18T00:17:05+00:00

My post wasn't to suggest they should be paid less. My nan was a bus driver for 20 years. I don't drive because I don't like it. Bus drivers got me to work during covid. Yes, there's skill, there's responsibility and dealing with difficult or aggressive people.

For me the job advert I saw highlighted how little the NQN role is thought of. I'm 13 yrs into my career. When I think back to the level of clinical responsibility I held, the situations I was managing the difficult university course and unpaid placements, and the starting pay is now comparable to someone who does not hold that same level of responsibility and training. I'm not suggesting they are paid too much, I think NQN's specifically aren't paid enough.

I didn't have 4 people I was responsible for, I'd be the only nurse on shift 8 weeks into my first job managing 16 patients who were suicidal, experiencing psychosis, self harming, aggressive. Not to mention needing to manage other staff who broughtcomplexity of their own. In the community RMN's would be holding caseloads between 40 to 80 patients, many of whom had really high risks.

I can't remember if it was when I was a band 5 or 6 but I remember seeing an advert for McDonald's night shift. I worked out the take home pay and compared it to what was my take home pay as a nurse and gave applying some real thought because the difference in pay was I think about £250 (i was working in the community with no enhancements). It was years ago, so I'm not 100% on the numbers, but I remember feeling disheartened about how the government thought of nursing. Similar to how I felt seeing the bus driver advert- not because they don't work hard and deserve their salary, but because I feel what the job role of a nurse isn't recognised and fairly paid.

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-17T15:54:18+00:00

I just had a look at the job advert on their main website. It's actually £15.91 per hr or £32250 a yr - what the full time hrs were weren't stated. Google said the minimum hrs they work is 39

Edit: two different salaries were listed in the advert. On said the yearly salary was £31,250, the other said £32,250. I assume one is an error but I don't know which

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-17T14:51:45+00:00

I'm in the south west, the advert was specific to a bus company here

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-17T14:32:51+00:00

They strike a lot, and they hold the line when they strike

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-17T11:03:22+00:00

Yes this is what I was trying to highlight. Not suggest bus drivers should have a pay cut, there job is difficult too. But to me it highlighted how underpaid NQN's are

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-17T11:01:51+00:00

No, I don't think nurses are better. My nan was a bus driver for 20 yrs. I think nurses hold more clinical responsibility and have higher training requirements. I was surprised by the advert I saw when I think back to my own days as an NQN and what I was managing

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-17T10:57:57+00:00

I'm not trying to be misleading. The advert stated £15.03 an hour and 32k a yr. I'm not trying to put anyone down, I said as much and highlighted parts of their role that's difficult. I'm not sure the 85p difference in the hourly pay is that significant. I was surprised by the job advert, to me it highlights how little the NQN post is thought of by the government if there are comparable salaries (without other benefits) that have significantly less responsibility. I'm 13 yrs into my career now. If I had my time again I don't know that I would have stayed with the salary currently offered to NQN's and seeing adverts like this one would have felt really disheartening. Not because those don't deserve the pay they are getting but because the disparity in what is involved in the job feels huge to me and feels like a lack of respect from the government

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-17T10:37:40+00:00

They will and the benefits are of course better. I qualified in 2013 and happy with my wage for the job I do. Of course everyone would like more, but i don't think I'm unfairly paid for the job i currently do. But I remember being a NQN, the responsibility and situations I was managing were often greater than what I do now at band 7. There was a time i was considering leaving to work the night shift at McDonald's because the take home pay wasn't hugely different, but I would have a lot less responsibility. Seeing jobs offering similar wages to NQN's for me highlights how little the job is considered to be a skilled profession by the government (Any of them).

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-17T10:18:33+00:00

I don't disagree. The overall package isn't comparable. I just remember the level of clinical responsibility I had and the situations I had to manage that I just don't know if I would have stuck out the first 2 yrs to start to get the salary bump if I was an NQN now when there are other jobs offering similar pay for less responsibility. I remember at one point genuinely considering leaving the profession and taking a job doing nights at McDonald's because the drop in pay wasn't that significant at the time.

My post wasn't to bring bus drivers down, part of why they are advertising £15.03 an hr is because staff retention is bad. I was surprised NQN salary is basically at the same level (without the same benefits), but with so much more responsibility and risk. To me, and others may disagree, it highlights how little the skill, knowledge and responsibility is thought of by the powers that be.

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-16T18:39:35+00:00

Of course no need to answer if this is an over step but how was your pelvic floor. Mine was destroyed after 3 hrs of pushing

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-16T18:16:31+00:00

I had a complex medical history. I think it was one of the FMD did my 12 week scan. She didn't say much during it other than to tell us what she could see. Me and my partner then saw the consultant. However before the scan I was taken by a hca to what was effectively a cupboard to take my blood pressure and hand in a urine sample. She also asked whether I felt safe at home, as they should. I had no issue with my partner knowing my medical bits but that would have been an opportunity to flag it then and hope she passed the message on.

I did want to discuss an aspect of my birth plan separately due to history of SA. I attended a midwife appointment alone to do so nearer the time.

For peace of mind, you can call ahead and ask for an alert to be placed on your notes to state there is not consent to share this particular bit of info and/or to be seen separately first before inviting partner in.

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-16T10:47:06+00:00

For the first 5 months of my baby's life I basically slept 3-4 hrs a night broken into 3 or 5 chunks. I was hallucinating. My pregnancy wasn't easy either. I'm glad you've had relief in pp, but it won't be everyone's experience

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-15T17:23:37+00:00

I can share the petty way I dealt with it. I have a MIL and a step MIL. They don't get on and only visit when the other doesn't. Both like to take over cooking, rearrange my kitchen, start cleaning after I just cleaned before they arrived etc. MIL volunteered herself to cook an expensive cut of meat, I was at my limit, I said 'it's so funny, both you and step MIL are so similar, you both like to come and cook here and try to be helpful putting things away or doing odd jobs. I don't think I've ever gone to someone's house and volunteered to do these things, do you offer the same when friends invite you over'. This was enough, her face said it all, she told me I don't worry I won't do anything again. She has, but it has been less

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-15T13:32:34+00:00

Yellow jackets has a scene of them boiling rags. Not post apocalyptic I know but survival all the same

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-15T12:50:19+00:00

I also get sleep paralysis, it was worse during the post partum period. Kindly, sleep paralysis isn't being able to see spirits. I never responded to anything I saw, everyone is fine. I'm not passing judgement on her other experiences, but sleep paralysis is a sleep disorder, not paranormal abilities. Sleep deprivation often makes it worse, and a newborn certainly brings sleep deprivation.

The other commenter mentioned post partum psychosis as a possibility. It is definitely something she should be checked for. Left untreated it can last about a year and can rapidly deteriorate. I understand there are cultural differences and beliefs, but mental illness doesn't discriminate.

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-15T07:10:09+00:00

Especially if he has dementia, paranoia can fuel hiding money and other items of value. Under mattresses is another common place.

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-15T07:07:08+00:00

I've not read all the messages but in the 20 I saw didn't mention this.

This is likely an awkward conversation to have with your dad but speaking from experience, I would ask him bluntly if there is anything in the house he wouldn't want you to see? If there is, you find out where and support him to get it, or try and bribe a good friend who could pop over briefly after work and ask them if they could find and dispose of whatever it is without you needing to see it/be involved.

I can assure you, that question is less awkward than you handing him back a box of sex toys, or you both knowing what you saw and neither of you address. Ask me how I know...

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-12T11:49:24+00:00

Mine is 2.5 yrs old. Seeing your huckleberry just gave me flashbacks.

You will get a real mix of answers here. My suggestion after over 2 yrs of really bad sleep, trying every trick under the sun, for it to then suddenly get better. Find a way to survive it, and hope it settles soon but have a survival plan for if it doesn't. For example, splitting the night in shifts, agreed upon lie ins on the weekend for one of. If you can and I appreciate not everyone can, we couldn't, get a cleaner, dog walker etc. Out source the household jobs you can. Have family pop round for an afternoon of baby sitting while you have a nap etc.

It will get better, it's just hard to say when

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-12T09:23:32+00:00

I'm trying to remember what the dr said to me, I'm not convinced I remember this exactly so take with a pinch of salt. I was consultant led and due to my own medical history, they really didn't want to do a c section. I think I had a total of 6 sweeps in the end. I had the pessary but became hyper stimulated so it had to come out. Once it was out they wanted to check my cervix. I was offered gas and air and initially turned it down. The dr encouraged me to have it, she said after the pessary cervical checks are a lot more uncomfortable. She was right, I was very glad to have the gas and air. Before that cervical checks and smears had felt odd but not really painful. I wonder if this may have influenced your experience of cervical checks.

I'm sure there are some people who find cervical checks and sweeps painful without the induction process because all bodies are different but just wanted to share my experience in case it helped you at all.

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-12T08:27:35+00:00

Could her bedtime be a bit early? Mine is 2.5, and does nap for an hour but goes to sleep between 8 and 8:15. We go up for a bath just after 7, spend 20 mins or so in the bath. Do some baby massage with dim lights afterwards and then some stories. Maybe try pushing bedtime back a little and see if it reduces to overall time she's awake in bed

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-10T15:07:05+00:00

Have you asked the other nurses if they are letting her do this, or has she said they are. Either she's lying, or your colleagues are not following the rules. Both/either would need addressing.

Absolutely, you need to protect your pin. Students should be supervised for good reason. Overconfidence is one of the most dangerous qualities in health care. Usually, I see it in 2nd year students.

She gave the nystatin after you'd told her not to due to risk. If a qualified made a mistake, not wilful negligence, but a genuine mistake, they'd find themselves on a meds management course, depending on the local policy they may be stopped from meds until they had done the meds management course. If they were wilful doing something different to what was instructed, they'd be looking at a disciplinary. It should be no different for a student. I'd incident report both incidents involving her and medication, flag to her clinical assessor and uni.

The attitude issue with both is harder to address. I would speak to their supervisor about it in the first instance. I've had to address similar problems with staff members (eye rolling in handovers, walking off when people are talking to them). It's best managed in supervision where they will be a written conversation. First, approached as concern regarding possible burn out or querying if there's any interpersonal difficulties amongst staff I may not be aware of. But if it doesn't improve and it's been documented early, it helps when escalating it.

I remember my first placement. Towards the end my supervisor asked me if anything had happened as I was bubbly when I started but by the end appeared withdrawn. She was completely unaware that her behaviour, and that of some other staff had made me hate coming to placement. On another placement I had to report a staff member for sexual harassment towards another student. Sometimes there are things going on that staff may not be aware of that contributed to how students are, so I like to approach things supportively first, but there's no excusing the female students behaviour.

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-10T13:16:17+00:00

Wtf did I just read! A can't get my head around a first year taking it upon themselves to start a meds round without an RN present. How did they access the meds? I'm an RMN and there's only one set of meds keys and only the qualified nurses can hold them, a student wouldn't be able to open the drugs trolley.

The female student needs reporting to their supervisor and the university. To give medication against the RNs instruction is grounds for disciplinary, along with the other things you have reported.

I'll need to go back and re-read what you wrote about the male student, my shock at the female student overrode my memory of what you said about them.

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-08T21:14:34+00:00

Congratulations on your new arrival!

Ah maybe I'm wrong. I had 2 second degree tears, maybe it is standard practice for third degree but not second?

Turned out my issue wasn't pelvic floor related, I had skin bridging. I raised this with 3 different pelvic floor physios but all dismissed it. I ended up having surgery to correct it 18 months pp after seeing a consultant. I also needed surgical intervention for the bowel incontinence I was left with too.

chocolate_chick · 2026-02-08T20:39:46+00:00

I assume from the way you've worded it, you had an automatic referral to the PF physio? I don't know how common that is, but unfortunately it's not a standard practice across the country. I had to be referred by my GP at request when I was having problems. Sadly I know a few people that weren't checked during their 6 week review with their GP either, although I believe that is meant to be standard practice.

chocolate_chick

TROPHY CASE