[lettie]

I have to agree with Margaret P on all of her posts here. Nursing is very different now than it was when I trained in 1987, way before degree courses. Much of the ward work has now become admin, there's a piece of paper for everything these days, and most days are spent covering your back against litigation. Hospital insurance premiums are sky high, but can be reduced if you show that things are being done a certain way, hence a massive paper trail.

Reductions in junior doctors hours has meant that nurses and midwives now do some of their roles, cannulation, suturing, male catheterisations, venepuncture and many others. Those nurses who are trained in these skills are therefore taken away from looking after individual patients in favour of performing these tasks, ticking boxes on paper and filing it in the notes.

Most of my role now is admin and ward and crisis management. I still have my fair share of patients and they get brilliant care. I know this because of the lovely cards and feeback that I get from them. I did a Bsc (hons) part time whilst working full time. It was bloody hard work but I am proud to have my degree. I am also proud to have trained both in nursing and midwifery in the traditional way and learned loads of practical skills, skills which I now pass on to my degree students.

Unfortunately, without a degree, in most professions these days there is no hope of promotion. Only by earning a senior role can you have any hope of making a difference on your ward. A difference that I try to make every day and am proud to do so.