Qualified Vs Experienced

Re: Qualified Vs Experienced

erica starling — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:07:09 GMT

[quote user="Ian Thompson"]

Unfortunately the short answer to this is unqualified nurses are at the bottom of the pay scale in relation to qualified nurses regardless of their experience. Why, because no matter how much experience an unqualified nurse has, they are still limited as to what they can do in practice.

Qualified nurses are increasingly being recognised as a valuable resource that a practice can use effectively. This is further noted by the fact that Diploma nurses are now being offered so much for their skills and abilities.

It is standard to have a ceiling pay scale for all nursing types. For example an unqualified nurse in the Yorkshire region may reach the top of his or her pay scale at £14,000, after which she will only get a yearly cost of living increase. A qualified nurse may reach the top of their pay scale at £19,000 plus cost of living. However the starting pay for a qualified nurse is about £16,000 which means that your 15 year unqualified nurse is going to be on a lot less than the less experienced qualified nurse. I would at this point probably sit down and revisit the possibility of the unqualified taking the VN training route.

This is a difficult conversation to have because people like to feel they have value and you should make it clear that she does have that, however you are running a business and without paying the market rate for a qualified nurse you will struggle to achieve all that you want in your business. It may well be at the end of the day that your 15 year unqualified nurse decides to leave, and as hard as that is, and as difficult as you will find it to replace them, it has to be something you are ready to accept. After all when a long term veterinary partner decides to retire you have to accept that and lose all their experience.

[/quote]

I instigated a pay scale at my last practice after my appraisal. I used the NHS system of banding.

With their (NHS)new agenda for change, your pay is based on your use able skills and position you are performing.. so if you had a need for a qualified Head Nurse say (so for argument at the top of VN pay scale) and you had a vet that wanted to apply; 1st they would need the VN qualification and even if they did they would be paid the bottom nursing wage in that band and have to work up through that band with length of service.

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=766 for ideas on making your own banding system. This then enable the whole team to know where they can go and how to move up in the practice if they want to. Obviously no one knows exactly how much each person gets, just what band they are on and why.

Re: Qualified Vs Experienced

sandra taylor — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:33:15 GMT

Very well said, and very well put Ian

Re: Qualified Vs Experienced

Ian Thompson — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:13:53 GMT