What do I say?

Re: What do I say?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:58:03 GMT

take care and hope all goes well for you

Re: What do I say?

chris beasley — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:29:41 GMT

Thanks Kate

You guys are great on here - Always give two sides to the story and put things in perspective! THANKS

Re: What do I say?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:28:44 GMT

yes the one beginning with R = reserve for when desperate. I never rule anybody out because I know some really decent people who locum for them but just wouldnt be my first choice

Re: What do I say?

Steph Worsley — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:27:19 GMT

Hi I just felt I needed to say something re the knee op and your time off. I had to have my 3rd arthroscopy in 7 years on the 28th November and believe me you NEED at least 2 weeks off following it. my first op I had to be signed off for 4 weeks following a meniscal tear and my knee didn't heal as quickly as expected, the 2nd 2 1/2 years ago I was off for just 2 weeks and this last one I actually had holiday as well so had 3 weeks off, and then worked 5 days prior to christmas, those 5 days were so painful, my knee kept swelling and popping, I had another meniscal tear and yes I should have been "fixed" by the end of those 2 weeks and the orthopod is confused why I'm not, I still can't kneel and put pressure on the front of my knee and crouching etc is not good.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you HAVE to go back (for money issues etc) then don't expect to be "fine" you will need to sit a lot and keep your leg raised a lot, no crouching, no kneeling etc etc etc. Also you may have problems driving. the physio should come and speak to you following your surgery and will give you exercises to do, they will say to only do essential walking for the first 48 hours and then slowly build up your walking till you are walking normal distances after 7 days. Go careful with it!

As far as the pay rise, yes you might feel like it's a kick in the teeth but I do know nurses who have lost their jobs in the last few months, so at least that isn't happening to you. One practice I worked at I never recieved a pay rise in almost 2 years being there (not even cost of living)

Re: What do I say?

Katie Mansfield — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:12:44 GMT

That's a really hard one. In these difficult recession-hit times it could be the case that if your boss gives everyone a pay-rise the practice may not meet it's running costs. You say he's very generous at Xmas and he obviously cares about you all, I'm sure he would have if he could have. You could maybe mention that you're disappointed, but you may find he's just as disappointed that he can't meet your expectations. Having said that though, I think you'll kick yourself if you don't say anything.

As for your knee operation, if you can't get a locum are you going to make yourself worse by standing up all day and then possibly needing even more time off? I know it's gonna be hard cash wise at home if you're only on SSP. A little while ago on here someone was talking about taking telephone calls at home - can't remember if it was a triage service or insurance, but it was a way of boosting their income. Could you perhaps look into that for a couple of weeks?

Good luck at work and all the best with your op - don't over do it though!!!

K x

Re: What do I say?

chris beasley — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:09:33 GMT

Re: What do I say?

Gemma Burden RVN — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:09:14 GMT

I don't want to sound rude, but I think with the countries current financial situation we all need to be grateful that we have jobs at all. There are plenty of people out there who have lost their jobs as the companys they work for have been doing so badly or just can't get a job in the first place, and I think alot of people have missed out on pay rises for the past few years. Although the practice may seem as though it is doing ok the cost of running a practice is increasing, and any equipment isn't going to come cheap. At my previous practice I didn't ever get a pay rise, and that was before the recession. From what you have said your boss sounds like a decent guy, so I suspect that if the money was there to give you a rise then he would, and probably feels bad that he isn't able to give you one.

Re: What do I say?

Sal the 1st — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:01:29 GMT

locum wise - our practice has been contacted by 3 agencies since the week before christmas all wanting to place locum nurses. Have you tried recruit4vets at all as I think this was one of them and I think the other was probably synergy and the other was the one beginning with R - dont know if any of those would be able to help you?

The wage rise thing - well dont take it personally because there are plenty in the same boat. Have you considered that although it looks like you have made a smaller profit this year because the VAT went up there will be more money to pay on the VAT bill so the practice along with other expenditure may well be not as well off as a result?