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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nurses' strike: Why young NHS workers are voting 'yes' | Nurses' strike: Why young NHS workers are voting 'yes' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Ellie McNicol has been a student nurse for two years and is supporting strike action | Ellie McNicol has been a student nurse for two years and is supporting strike action |
| NHS nurses are expected to vote in favour of the biggest-ever strike action their profession has seen. | NHS nurses are expected to vote in favour of the biggest-ever strike action their profession has seen. |
| Unions say nurses aren't paid enough as cost of living rises overtake wages, and they face increasing pressure as more and more colleagues quit. | Unions say nurses aren't paid enough as cost of living rises overtake wages, and they face increasing pressure as more and more colleagues quit. |
| The government has pleaded with staff not to strike for the sake of patients, but health workers say their current workloads are dangerously high. | The government has pleaded with staff not to strike for the sake of patients, but health workers say their current workloads are dangerously high. |
| BBC Newsbeat spoke to young nurses to find out about their experiences. | BBC Newsbeat spoke to young nurses to find out about their experiences. |
| Student nurse Ellie McNicol is among those supporting future strike action. | Student nurse Ellie McNicol is among those supporting future strike action. |
| The 22-year-old only started her course at the University of Bristol last year but says she has already seen enough to know things need to change. | The 22-year-old only started her course at the University of Bristol last year but says she has already seen enough to know things need to change. |
| "Lots of mistakes are happening that shouldn't be due to staffing pressures," she says. | "Lots of mistakes are happening that shouldn't be due to staffing pressures," she says. |
| "I've seen it first-hand. | "I've seen it first-hand. |
| "We get a lot of pressure put on us." | "We get a lot of pressure put on us." |
| Ellie says she knew nursing would be hard but feels working conditions need to improve | Ellie says she knew nursing would be hard but feels working conditions need to improve |
| Ellie was inspired to get into nursing after caring for her brother when he was in an accident a couple of years ago. | Ellie was inspired to get into nursing after caring for her brother when he was in an accident a couple of years ago. |
| "If I didn't feel so strongly about wanting to help people I'd consider dropping out," she says. | "If I didn't feel so strongly about wanting to help people I'd consider dropping out," she says. |
| "I knew it was going to be hard. It's common knowledge that nurses don't get half of what they deserve." | "I knew it was going to be hard. It's common knowledge that nurses don't get half of what they deserve." |
| As a student, she doesn't get paid for her time working on wards but receives a bursary to help with her travel costs. | As a student, she doesn't get paid for her time working on wards but receives a bursary to help with her travel costs. |
| 'Really big reason' | 'Really big reason' |
| We won't know if the strike is definitely going ahead until the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announces the result of its ballot this week. | We won't know if the strike is definitely going ahead until the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) announces the result of its ballot this week. |
| But sources have told the BBC that a large number of nurses have voted in favour of strike action. | But sources have told the BBC that a large number of nurses have voted in favour of strike action. |
| There has been criticism from some about the risk to patients and the government has urged staff not to down tools. | There has been criticism from some about the risk to patients and the government has urged staff not to down tools. |
| Ellie understands the concerns, but says: "If nurses feel like their only option is to strike, it must be something really big. | Ellie understands the concerns, but says: "If nurses feel like their only option is to strike, it must be something really big. |
| "When it's Royal Mail, it's just people's post, not their lives on the line," she says. | "When it's Royal Mail, it's just people's post, not their lives on the line," she says. |
| With the cost of living increasing, she argues nurses have to look after themselves as much as they look after others. | With the cost of living increasing, she argues nurses have to look after themselves as much as they look after others. |
| The strikes: What you need to know | The strikes: What you need to know |
| If strikes take place, they would affect non-urgent but not emergency care | If strikes take place, they would affect non-urgent but not emergency care |
| The RCN called for a rise of 5% above the RPI inflation rate which currently stands at above 12%, but no UK nation has offered close to that | The RCN called for a rise of 5% above the RPI inflation rate which currently stands at above 12%, but no UK nation has offered close to that |
| Starting salaries for nurses in England are currently just above £27,000, rising to nearly £55,000 for the most senior nurses | Starting salaries for nurses in England are currently just above £27,000, rising to nearly £55,000 for the most senior nurses |
| The government had appealed to nurses to "carefully consider" the impact on patients | The government had appealed to nurses to "carefully consider" the impact on patients |
| This is the first time the RCN has balloted all its members for strike action in its 106-year history | This is the first time the RCN has balloted all its members for strike action in its 106-year history |
| 'Creating a better place' | |
| Paediatric nurse Jessie Collins works in schools and A&E, and has voted in favour of strike action. | |
| "It's about creating a work culture that retains staff," she says. | |
| "As nurses, it's really hard not to be able to deliver the care you want to." | |
| The 29-year-old says the strikes are also to "highlight the fact we aren't paid in line with what we think we're worth and the profession is worth". | |
| "And it's about trying to make it a better place, not just for us, but for our patients as well." | |
| “I can’t ever imagine doing anything else, but it’s a job that takes a lot from you," Jessie says | |
| She describes being a nurse as "really rewarding", but says the job "has to be a place that is safe". | |
| "There is a massive staffing crisis. In the long-term, it's going to be quite catastrophic, unless they do something," she says. | |
| And she feels the short-term impact of striking has "nothing on the impact on patient care over the past few years". | |
| "It's not something we ever imagined we would do. And it's for the benefit of our patients in the long run." | |
| 'Can't afford my job' | 'Can't afford my job' |
| Luke, who works in Wales, says he voted to strike after six years in the job. | Luke, who works in Wales, says he voted to strike after six years in the job. |
| "The volume of work and the level of responsibility is unbelievable for the money you're on," says Luke, who didn't want to share his full name. | "The volume of work and the level of responsibility is unbelievable for the money you're on," says Luke, who didn't want to share his full name. |
| He's seen his outgoings shoot up by £400 a month, and says he's having to pick up extra weekend shifts to make ends meet. | He's seen his outgoings shoot up by £400 a month, and says he's having to pick up extra weekend shifts to make ends meet. |
| "How is frozen pay going to help me deal with that?" he asks. "My job is now unaffordable." | "How is frozen pay going to help me deal with that?" he asks. "My job is now unaffordable." |
| Luke says his nursing job has become "unaffordable" | Luke says his nursing job has become "unaffordable" |
| Although high numbers of nurses are choosing to leave the profession, Luke says he is so passionate about his career he would not consider quitting. | Although high numbers of nurses are choosing to leave the profession, Luke says he is so passionate about his career he would not consider quitting. |
| "None of us are in this for the money," he says. "This is not a career you go in to to get rich. | "None of us are in this for the money," he says. "This is not a career you go in to to get rich. |
| "It's not just a job you do - you give a piece of yourself to it." | "It's not just a job you do - you give a piece of yourself to it." |
| University staff to go on strike this month | |
| Record number of nurses quitting the NHS | |
| Choosing to strike was a "preventative measure", he says, insisting wards wouldn't be left unsafe on strike days but adding the quality of care was already slipping. | Choosing to strike was a "preventative measure", he says, insisting wards wouldn't be left unsafe on strike days but adding the quality of care was already slipping. |
| "It really is life and death," he says. | "It really is life and death," he says. |
| "Patients are already suffering because we're struggling to give them the care they need and deserve." | "Patients are already suffering because we're struggling to give them the care they need and deserve." |
| Are you a nurse? What are your thoughts on the strike? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a nurse? What are your thoughts on the strike? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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