2013 Salary Trends In Nurses Positions In The UK

How much do nurses make? Nursing is one of the few careers for which the demand is increasing. While nearly every other job is being replaced by technology or outsourced to cheaper workers overseas, nurses will always be necessary. Nursing is a satisfying career that is also financially rewarding.

Pay Rates

A nurse is paid according to her level of experience and the difficulty of the tasks she performs. The rate is also affected by where the nurse is working. Nurses who live and work in London tend to make the most money, but they also have to grapple with a higher cost of living. On average, a new nurse on the absolute bottom rung makes about £14 per hour. Experienced nurses with extremely specialised skills make nearly £100 per hour. Nursing specialties and pay rates are divided into tiers called bands. Nurses identify by their bands and aspire to jump up to the higher ones. Moving up a band affords greater prestige along with a pay raise.

The Life of a Nurse

Nursing is not an easy job. It has earned a bit of a bad reputation because of the way university drop-outs view it as a back-up plan. Nurses deal with the least appertising aspects of medicine. They handle blood and fluids and occasionally find themselves covered with those fluids. It is not a career for the fragile or faint of heart.

In spite of its unattractive aspects, nursing remains an appealing career. It offers scheduling flexibility and a comfortable salary. Nurses are given opportunities to work in foreign countries, essentially being paid to travel. Nurses who are burned out after working in hospital settings are able to work for private agencies or as in-home aides. There is room in nursing for everyone who wants to make good money and work in new environments.

Sources:

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/working-in-the-nhs/pay-and-benefits/agenda-for-change-pay-rates/
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/adult_nurse_salary.htm