Two-thirds of nurses have considered resigning, says survey

Two-thirds of nurses have considered resigning, says survey  Royal College of Nursing report finds plummeting morale and stress levels soaring amid cuts and poor working conditions

Almost two-thirds of nurses have considered quitting their jobs in the last 12 months because they are so stressed, a survey has found.

Swingeing cuts to the numbers of nurses in the NHS have left many feeling overburdened and unable to give the care they would want.

A Royal College of Nursing (RCN) survey of 10,000 staff found that 62% had thought about leaving over the last year because they were under so much stress in their job.

Sixty-one percent felt unable to give patients the care they would want to because they were too busy, while 83% believed their workload had increased in the last 12 months.

Official figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre last week revealed that the NHS has lost more than 5,000 nurses in just three years.

Data for May this year rshows there were 348,311 qualified staff working in nursing, midwifery and health visiting, down 5,601 on the 353,912 in May 2010.

As well as staff cuts, nurses have also had to endure a pay freeze between 2010 and 2012, followed by a 1% cap on increases from this year until 2016.

Rachael McIlroy, from the RCN, said: "Salaries have remained static while household bills are rising, and people are finding it really hard.

"Extra unpaid hours is an issue because there are too few staff, and job security is an acute concern."

She added: "The pay freeze, staff shortages and negativity following the Francis inquiry means nurses feel hard done by."

The Francis inquiry highlighted the unnecessary suffering and neglect at Stafford hospital, where hundreds more people died than would normally be expected.

Dr Peter Carter, the RCN's chief executive, told the Daily Mirror: "At a time when patients are so dependent on the nursing workforce, the idea that so many are contemplating leaving just doesn't bear thinking about.

"The reality is that nurses are caring for more patients, with fewer staff having less time. This just can't continue."  Guardian