Unqualified nurses

Re: Unqualified nurses

samantha tully RVN MBVNA — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:42:32 GMT

Sympathise with you Jen know where you are coming from - fb me if you want to chat

Re: Unqualified nurses

Fiona Skiera — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:26:52 GMT

sorry - I should have added that I agree with you that the training/qualification should be recognised as something much more than can be gained through experience alone. Unfortunately, to an observer, you can only be judged on your actions rather than the knowledge that informs them, so it can often appear that unqualified and qualified nurses are the same. In the same way that some nurses often feel that they could do the vet's job - until there's a crisis. Veterinary nursing is evolving as a profession, and it will probably be quite rocky until it has become properly established. It will be worth it in the end, though.

Re: Unqualified nurses

Jenny S — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:15:40 GMT

Totally agree she is very proficient, just difficult to take sometimes when i know how hard i worked to get the qualification. Just interested to heaqr other peoples views and discuss it here as obviously a difficult subject to discuss at work.

Re: Unqualified nurses

Fiona Skiera — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:20:46 GMT

Public perception is everything - People outside of the profession are often unaware of the limitations of different roles, and they are more concerned about qualifications than experience in most cases (hence the Medivet/ Panorama issue). Staff distinctions need to be very clear as to the level of training. The problem is, people don't question the situation until something goes wrong; there is a rather mistaken view that a uniform means qualified. I have worked with many unqualified, but very capable, nurses - but legally they can do no more than a lay member of staff.

Re: Unqualified nurses

thebeestingbutterfly — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:43:44 GMT

as long as the public are aware that she is not qualified noting can/will be said. I see your frustration as the same thing happened in my previous practice. however i also must add that experience counts for alot... i know of lots of unqualified nurses who can do a much better job than some qualified nurses. sad to say but true.

It is hard to swallow.

Re: Unqualified nurses

Sal the 1st — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:47:21 GMT

what do you want me to say? it isnt illegal and there is no ruling against it - and the powers that be are concentrating all their efforts on regulating to the nth degree those that are already qualified and ignoring everything else. I would imagine after 15yrs the DHN is pretty proficient in what she does

Re: Unqualified nurses

Katie Mansfield — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:42:16 GMT

What does she wear currently? The PDSA staff (where I'm volunteering until uni) vets, nurses, vcas, acas and volunteers all dress exactly the same with the only thing that shows their position being the name badge.

A practice I worked at in the 90s had an unqualified member of staff who wore a bottle green dress. She'd worked there since she left school in the 50s, before the introduction of qualifications for nursing staff. She did mainly reception duties at the branch practice and the ordering; no surgical or nursing duties at all.The clients weren't confused by her uniform, but then she did always let them know that she wasn't qualified to answer their questions.

I do support the "Protect the Title" campaign and I do agree that clients should be made (visually) aware of staff qualifications. However, I am more concerned that your colleague is being allowed to place cannulas and take blood than about her uniform.

K x