After 20 years in theatre nursing, it had become increasingly clear to me that my role no longer resembled the Band 5 profile. My day-to-day work involved complex orthopaedic and trauma surgery, robotic procedures, leadership responsibilities, and the education of colleagues. On top of that, I had four years of previous Band 6 experience and postgraduate study, none of which were reflected in my grading. Submitting to the review was therefore an opportunity to correct a clear mismatch between the scope of my responsibilities and the pay band I was on.

The process itself was not straightforward. Initially, my line manager refused to sign off the application, arguing that it did not reflect Band 6 responsibilities and insisting I restrict my evidence to a 12-month window. This directly contradicted national guidance. It was only with the intervention of the RCN, who attended a formal HR-chaired meeting with me, that these restrictions were challenged and my evidence accepted in full. Without that support, my case would have ended before it even began.

Once the submission was accepted, it was tested rigorously and ultimately judged to be a clear match to the national Band 6 Nurse Specialist profile, scoring 428 points. The outcome was a successful regrading.

Going through this process also had an unexpected personal impact. Compiling my evidence required me to step back and reflect on the breadth of my role in a way I hadn’t done before. In doing so, I rediscovered a sense of value in the skills I had developed and the responsibilities I carry. Most importantly, it restored a level of professional self-confidence that I had lost.

The support from the RCN was pivotal. They ensured fairness, protected the integrity of the process, and gave me the confidence to persist when it would have been easier to walk away.

I believe it is important for other Band 5 nurses to know that they too can make a submission if their role has outgrown its profile. It may not always be easy, and at times it can feel daunting, but it is possible to achieve recognition. My advice would be: gather detailed evidence, map it directly to the national profile, and don’t be discouraged if you meet resistance. With persistence and the right support, the system can deliver fair outcomes.

David, Theatre Nurse, NHS Grampian

If you are a Band 5 nurse and would like to find out more about the review of band 5 roles, read the guidance on our website.