Student Nurse wage

Re: Student Nurse wage

meep_ kitten — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:35:47 GMT

Well I worked 45 hours a week for free for a year as a VNA just to get experience in the hope of improving chances of getting a student VN placement. I'd be delighted with minimum wage so long as I was getting training and college fees paid!

Re: Student Nurse wage

Gemma Burden RVN — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:27:30 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

Although some people start on minimum wage in my practice, they very rarely stay on it for long. I think it would be demoralising to feel that the practice is paying you the minimum they can get away with!!! I do realise that nurse training is expensive though and costs have to be kept down - do your students get a pay rise after they pass their first year at least?

[/quote]

Although I think it can sound demoralising to say you are on minimum wage, it has increased a lot in the past few years. Our students sometimes comment on how low the minimum wage is and have to wonder how much they think the qualified nurses actually get, I don't think they believe me when I tell them that when I qualified in 2006 my wages went up to £6 an hour, less than the current mimimum wage.

Re: Student Nurse wage

Sarah Cahill — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 19:00:59 GMT

We were told that if we were to pay our SVNs a wage that they would lose their full time student status and therefore be liable for their coures fees, the only way we can get round this is to pay them for extra hours worked/Saturdays etc.

When I started my training I didn't get paid.

Re: Student Nurse wage

Fuzzyduck — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 17:29:29 GMT

No unfortunately they dont get a pay rise after the first year, the only rise they get is after qualifying, although the raise is very good.

It would be a good idea to get a raise post 1st year (i did when i was training but in a different practice) however i guess the practice feels as they are paying for their training the incentive to make sure they qualify quickly is that they get the raise after they pass all their exams.

Re: Student Nurse wage

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:35:50 GMT

Re: Student Nurse wage

Fuzzyduck — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:05:37 GMT

All our student nurses are on minimum wage regardless of their age/experience. Obviously the minimum wage differs for age brackets as above but they dont get a pay rise above the minimum until they qualify

Re: Student Nurse wage

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:27:16 GMT

For a school leaver I would suggest you start at minimum wage:

£6.08 - the main rate for workers aged 21 and over
£4.98 - the 18-20 rate
£3.68 - the 16-17 rate for workers above school leaving age but under 18
£2.60 - the apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship

I think a school leaver is a big gamble on your part and they will need a lot of guidance and training, so it is fair that they start on a low wage. There is nothing to stop you increasing their salary after their probation period if they are doing really well. It is an good way of giving someone a tap on the head!