To Nurse Or Not To Nurse

Half said no, blaming low morale, poor staffing levels and poor pay.

Most would not encourage their children to become nurses.

Health reporter Harriet Shelley met two dedicated Worthing Hospital nurses to see if they were surprised.

Senior staff nurse Linda Rose can't remember ever wanting to be anything but a nurse. Over her 35 dedicated years in the profession she has seen many changes, some good, some bad.

But given her time over again, Linda smiles and admits she wouldn't change a thing.

"I always knew I wanted to be a nurse," she said. "I never considered doing anything else.

"At school they tried to push me towards office work but I knew I wasn't interested."

Staff nurse Lynda Naftel shares Linda's love of the job.

But, unlike her colleague, she would not become a nurse again and would not encourage her two daughters to follow in her footsteps.

"I do enjoy my work I love my work but it can be incredibly frustrating, " she said.

"Knowing what I know now, with the shortages of beds and the staffing levels, I would have to say I wouldn't go into nursing again.

"I wouldn't actively encourage my two children into nursing and that's sad," she said.

Find out more about the nurses' reasoning in the Gazette, April 25.