“NHS crisis: Nurse morale hits rock bottom” – Did you read it?

The UK’s Mirror recently reported on a lack of nurse morale overseas. A poll of almost 6,000 National Health Service (the publicly-funded healthcare system in the UK) staff revealed that a mere four percent think leader David Cameron is doing a good job. Yikes!

Now, less than a week after the Mirror released their findings, the Independent is reporting that the NHS has voted to strike over pay. The article states:

“Members of Unison, which represents 300,000 nurses, healthcare assistants, porters and other staff, voted for strike action over pay by a two-thirds majority.

“Nine other unions, including Unite, GMB and the Royal College of Midwives are balloting for strike action, with results due in the coming weeks.”

Just how bad is nursing morale in the United Kingdom? Another poll in the Mirror revealed that 72 percent of nurses say they are “unable to spend enough time with patients to offer a safe level of care.” Janet Davies, Royal College of Nursing executive director, said the results of the surveys are “deeply alarming.”

She continued, “This is yet more evidence that the morale of the nursing workforce is at rock bottom. Nursing staff are the backbone of health care, but it seems like the government does not value them or the work they do. Nurses are overstretched and underappreciated. Their working conditions are getting worse, with some being put on lower grades, and many say they don’t have enough time to spend with their patients. The implications for the health service are serious.”

More findings from the story:

• 50 percent of nurses felt that there had not been not enough cover to provide safe levels of care for the patients they had been tending on their last shift.
• 73 percent say work conditions have gotten worse since 2010. Only five percent have noticed improvements.
• 60 percent of nurses describe morale in their profession as poor or very poor, and 29 percent rate it just okay.

Nurses also note low wages, staff cuts, long hours and the decline in their reputation among the general public (likely influenced by these other key issues).

Read the full stories over on the Independent and Mirror and then comment below. Have you been keeping tabs on nursing satisfaction overseas, or are you focusing on your own happiness? And are you happy at work? What’s the morale level like in your workplace? And what could be done to make it better?