Nurse morale: pay rise would help prevent looming workforce exodus – RCN
Survey finds poor staffing and long hours are pushing nurses to consider quitting
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Nurses are experiencing increased stress, putting in more hours amid staff shortages and working above their pay grade, RCN analysis indicates.
The college's findings come from a survey of 41,000 members in May and June.
Higher stress levels and greater responsibility
Just over three quarters (76%) of respondents reported an increase in their stress levels.
A third (34%) were working at a higher level of responsibility – and 90% of those people said they had no extra pay.
More than a third (38%) said staffing levels had worsened during the pandemic and a third were working longer hours.
While most (88%) respondents said they were passionate about their job, just over a third (35%) might consider leaving by the end of this year.
Risk of nurses leaving the profession
losing nurses if pay does not improve
Almost half (44%) said the way nursing staff have been treated during the pandemic has made them consider quitting, with the percentage being higher among black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff (54%) than in white respondents (42%).
RCN general secretary Dame Donna Kinnair said the findings supported the college’s call for a significant pay rise without delay.
‘The pandemic is not over, but unless there is improved pay, we risk many of our members leaving the profession – at a time when the nation needs them more than ever,’ she said.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘The Agenda for Change deal is delivering year-on-year pay increases for our valued NHS staff, including increasing the starting salary for a newly-qualified nurse by over 12%.’
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