dulwichmum

??? Wrote: Yes nurses are all angels.......Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz Nurses don't want people to consider them to be angels sweetie, just the professionals that they are. If you had a cardiac arrest, would you like Barbara Windsor to mop your brow, or some kick ass nurse to resuscitate you? Lovely Mr Keef Wrote: > health care assistants with NVQs. > > What NVQs do they have? A lot of people scoff at > NVQs, but actually the higher levels (4 & 5) are > actually quite high qualifications. Walk into a hospital off the street and they will employ you as a health care assistant in place of a nurse - all in the name of "skill mix". They will then encourage this new health care assistant to study up to NVQ level 2.

Nursing and midwifery are incredibly demanding careers. Nursing staff in the community and hospital are often victims of assault and are required to be endlessly patient and kind to the vulnerable patients they care for. You cannot possibly have any appreciation for how skilled these roles are unless you take a trip around a clinical area such as an ITU, special care baby unit or labour ward. Midwives (for example) can suddenly find themselves facing catastrophic situations such as a shoulder dystocia or a cord prolapse - you would gain an appreciation for their qualifications, training, quick thinking and calm under pressure then. I am still puzzled by ???'s comment about how he went out with a nurse so he knows... what does he know? Has he been out with every nurse? I really don't think so. About ten years ago a midwife on Kings labour ward wearing a pedometer walked for nine miles in one shift without leaving the labour ward during a shift.... That can be an incredibly stressful job. I don't think that midwives and nurses wages compare that favourably with teachers or the police, when you consider the danger they are in with regard to the hazards such as blood borne infections (and litigation) they expose themselves too. Yes it is still possible to qualify with a diploma, but newly qualified nurses with diplomas must immediately begin studying to take a degree in their own time if they want to climb the career ladder and yes, nursing posts have been slashed over the last few years. Scores of health visitors and district nurses posts have disappeared from Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham PCTs over the last five years. They have been replaced by health care assistants with NVQs. Nurses are required to read journals and attend regular study days in order to keep their qualifications and stay up to date, and yet they are undermined, undervalued and often patronised by people with the perception that the profession is populated by "girls who are just not that bright".

Also, if employed as a community matron (qualified Registered Nurse with BSc with post graduate diploma qualification as a District Nurse so at least four years training in total) in most London Boroughs, you only get AFC grade 7 (I have never ever heard of a Community Matron getting an AFC 8), and that is with five years post graduate experience. These posts are very thin on the ground. I think that the pay scales are frightful for the work they do.

OHMYGOD ????, That line was low. How very upsetting that the execution of a role involving the care of vulnerable and sick people in a professional capacity (I believe) can lead to such vile innuendo. Shame on you. Nurses deserve all the support they can get, they certainly don't get paid a whole lot for it.

I think that lady newsreaders should wear diamond tiaras. My cousin from Ireland said that in the 1960's and early 70's in Ireland sat on armchairs and wore tiaras, I like the sound of that.

I know dozens of nurses who live in East Dulwich, and some of them can even afford it, imagine that! We have a good bus connection from West Dulwich to St Thomas's Hospital, rail links from East and West Dulwich to Guys and Lewisham hospitals and a large hospital at Kings and East Dulwich. There is large a health centre on Townley Road (base for district nurses and health visitors) and many GP practices (practice nurses). There are schools of nursing and midwifery at Southbank and Kings College Uni (also good rail and bus links). The base for NHS direct is in Beckenham (http://www.citylifeltd.org/uploads/gallery/Huw_Edwards.jpg) - also great rail links.

Oh Michael, I am sure that you create joy in your office each day by simply by turning up (prrr)!

Have none of you noticed the god that is Huw Edwards? He is worth paying the license fee for (swoon)... http://www.citylifeltd.org/uploads/gallery/Huw_Edwards.jpg

ibilly99...(gasp) OHMYGOD! This is the best Christmas gift I had this year. I can't believe I only just found it. Thank you so very much.

This is frightful. I am terrified to let my dog off the lead now. Please let this be a mistake. I hope that someone was just wanting to get themselves a dog like yours (Bunny19). I have people stop me in the park all the time to ask me what breed my dog is. I like to see good in everyone, I mean, this is not Lambeth afterall.

I have no problem with Ulrika. The poor woman has been unfortunate in love. Just keep her away from my man or I will scratch her eyes out. What time tonight and what channel?

Wafts in behind enormous Chinese screen, removes bath robe and jumps onto PowerPlate. Switches on. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz OHMYGOD! This simply has to be doing something! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

A damn slow cooker... (wail)

I had T mobile for ages and it was just perfect. It never dropped reception. Vodaphone is my new provider and it is really rubbish in Dulwich Village. I keep losing connection.

Happy Christmas everyone. Best wishes for the New Year too. Big kiss to Mark x

I think that the BBC should put a stop to this type of thing. I just saw Duffy sing her fabulous hit ditty while a pair of gaszelle like simpletons with jazz hands and rictus grins pranced about in spangles. It really is not for everyone. I prefer my men to drag their knuckles on the ground when they walk. There is something about a man in a shirt respembling a pair of black 15 denier "barely there" tights that puts me off my Chablis. Mens nipples should never be visible through their shirts. Really now, what happened to great films?

I have just read this thread from start to finish and the entire bloody thing desserves an award. From Mightyroar to Keef to darling Michael P. I salute you all. Thanks for enriching my life. You are hilarious. Did I mention Sean?

Oh LuvPeckham darling, You really are a love.

You boys (sob), you all stick together.

Oh Michael darling, thank God you are here. You are such a devil, you always make me smile...

Superb! OHMYGOD, I almost inhaled my own vomit!

I too love a good episode of Top Gear. There is something strangely attractive about that many who is something to do with Paddington Bear. Can I top up that drink for you dear heart?

*swoon... CRASH* "I may have gone too far with the Chablis this evening, it is true..."

Darling Ant, you are a love, but clearly, you feel my pain, non?

Please Chavlet, let me come to your home to nurse you better. And while we are on the subject of extreme and top level weight loss... anyone out there with a tape worm, I would like to look after you too. Let me care for you, no, please. I feel your pain. Have you any idea how much a colonic lavage costs in this credit crunchy age? All of this home dining, instead of my usual evening restaurant fayre, has caused me to gain a couple of ...er... ounces, and I will take my opportunities for weight loss where they present themselves!