Antidote NZ

60 percent of nurses are over 50 years old.Lets fast forward 15 years to when elderly baby boomers have increasing health needs.60 percent of the nursing workforce will be retired or retiring.We need to address the issue of recruiting and RETAINING new nurses.How we do this is by offering a competitive salary and safe working conditions...This needs to be done NOW before its too late!

Anyone complaining about what the nurses are doing are fortunate enough to never have been in a position where theyve needed the help of nurses.They deserve more money.As do police and teachers.

For those who says its about the money, yeah, it is, in a way. When your top bracket in the public system is less than the starting salary of a junior doctor, why would you stay in public when you can make twice that as an experienced nurse in private or overseas?As a result, experienced nurses leave their jobs, making an already stretched service under even more pressure, and on and on it goes.At the end of it, patients suffer.I work with the ward nurses and see how much stress they are under because of the under staffing. Paying nurses fairly will make it more attractive to be a nurse, and stay in the public system.

The whole health sector needs an overhaul. There is so much waste and poor processes and planning which leaves some wards with what appears a number of nurses hanging around talking while other areas of the hospital they are all running around needing more staff. We need to make sure the tax dollars are being used wisely but some DHBs seem to think like the council they have a bottomless wallet.

You dont seem to understand. Other workers have had reasonable increments over the last 10 years, whereas nurses have had much less. The median wage in the 10 years since 2008 has increased by 31% whereas for nurses it has increased by 19%. So, they need 12% immediately just to catch up, let alone get more so that the work they do is seen to be valued properly. Lets face it, 31% increase in 10 years is pretty lousy anyway, only just heading off inflation. We live in a low-wage, high-price economy now. Unfortunately, nurses have been left behind more than others have.

They are both on the same side! The hospital need a certain amount of nurses to work so that the strike CAN go ahead, if they didnt volunteer too provide LPS, the strike would have to be cancelled. So.....the nurse working is doing so to allow the strike

Nurses deserve a fair pay, job satisfaction, committed employers, safer staffing and personal safety. Continually being assaulted or neglected is not acceptable- so go for your pay rise you deserve it and thanks for caring for our communities

Obviously youve never worked short staffed on a psychiatric ward. When we turn up for work under resourced - its extra staff and a safer environment that would make a difference - not money.

Im an older nurse - I have got 24 uears post grad experience under my belt and I am definately striking. What a stupid and uneducated thing to say. Do some research and then come back to the forum......

Im working to-day. I would have liked the strike to be everted. I am happy with the wage offer BUT not the lack of recognition of the shortage of staff. The continually working short staffed, often most day shifts. Being rung continually on your days off . Ph at 5.30am to come at 6.45am, or at 2pm to come now!! It is just not restful to be continually on guard to the phone. And working short is unsafe for patients and so is having tired, stressed staff.More Staff needed.

so your on your day off, your work calls to tell you someone is off sick and your the only one that can cover with the skills you have, this happens most times on your days off, thats ok in some jobs and you can say no, but when patient welfare comes into play being a nurse???

Better salaries lead to better staff retention and thus safer wards for staff and patients. Current salaries arent enough to maintain or recruit staff.

marketing vs nursing? is that a serious comparison?

All medical resources are in short supply and rationed - even if you have private medical insurance. They are in short supply because anything medical costs heaps more than it needs to. The high cost of everything, including doctors, especially doctors, is how the medical profession want it, and have kept it for years. NZ students who cant get a place in med school can usually get one in Australia, where the standards are are least as high, without too much trouble. There will be more money to go around, for NZ patients in need of care, in the system if somebody sorts the medical professions restrictive control of services first.

Marketing and accounting grads dont have to deal with being spat on / puked on by people they are trying to care for.Marketing and accounting grads dont issue meds, dress wounds, assist in theatre and hold your hand when you are terrified.We can largely do without marketing and accounting grads.We cant do without nurses.

Rubbish many workers have not had any increases or they have been very small,the biggest we have had it the last 4 years was 1.7%.During the 3 years of the so called GFC it was zero.Looking at the median wage is useless if you are receiving a lot less than that.Nurses are a head of most.

other workers...not sure where those statistics have come from but they are seriously incorrect..the median wage has definitely not increased by 31% in 10 years...no way !!!

Mate - what you dont realise is that is doesnt go much higher from there.I work in a corporate environemnt and what you are saying about nurses getting more than other graduates is complete nonsense.I should know. I was a Nurse and now work in a corporate environment.The shift work got me in the end. The pay I got after 8 years in the industry was comparable with an unskilled operations role in a financial services company.

Ambulances always have busy days - tomorrow wont be any different. Do you seriously think more people will call ambulances because nurses are on strike? why not be honest with yourself and admit your statement was just to stir the pot....... Troll......

be safe nz. best wishes.