Nursing saves lives. We recognise, assess and intervene. We care. We are integral to people's lives and wellbeing. We examine, diagnose, prescribe, dress wounds, hold hands and hearts, and so much more– we lead.

And that’s not easy when the pressures and stresses in nursing come from every direction.

It’s easy for others to minimise our contribution by viewing us as a workforce employed for our caring instincts and kindness. But that’s not why nursing matters. We matter because we’re critical to patients’ safety.

We are the 24/7 presence in health care. We analyse situations and act quickly to deliver the care that’s needed. That’s the kind of pressure our education and experience allow us to respond to.

We’re degree educated. We want to use our clinical skills and expertise to improve people's lives.

I want to be able to give complete and exceptional care. I want to be able to work at my absolute best, as do all my colleagues. But that is becoming more and more difficult.

The systems, structures and policies that surround nursing have failed to keep up with our profession’s evolution.

Anyone that knows me, knows how incredible I think nursing and nursing staff are. And it’s not just an opinion–it’s in the data.

When there are enough nursing staff working, with the right skills in the right place, patients are safer. Research even shows a difference in patient safety between the numbers of permanent and temporary staff. In our recently commissioned analysis by the University of Southampton’s Health Workforce and Systems Research Group we found that increasing permanent staff to avoid low staffing reduced the hazard of death by 7.7%, whereas using temporary staff reduced it by 4.1%.¹

When nursing staff are happy, the whole workforce is happier. Recent findings have shown that hospitals with better nurse staffing levels and working environments are not only better for nurses but are also associated with less burnout among their medical colleagues.²

So, that begs the question, if investing in nursing is so positive for patients and the health care system, why isn’t there more room for progression in nursing? Why are 44% of nurses still on Band 5 after working for 10 years or more?

At our Joint Reps conference last month, with our member representatives, Nicola Ranger spoke about nurses she met recently in Southampton. She spoke to one nurse who was an advanced practitioner, who ran her own clinics and was a prescriber. She was paid as a band 6. Next to her, was a member of the allied health team, who did the same job without prescribing, and was a band 8a. That is the reality for nursing today. And that’s what we need to change to be valued. Really, truly valued.

Why don’t we have the access to career development and advancement that so many of our allied health profession and medical colleagues have?

It’s hard to imagine that the pressures and limitations facing nursing now would be the same if we weren’t a profession founded and predominately staffed by women. Or if we were represented at every level of management, in the boardrooms, and in government decision making. If that were so, would nursing be paid, respected and treated as it is today?

Big change comes from people deciding that enough is enough and taking accountability and action.

Until we treat ourselves with the value and care we expect to be treated with, the system will continue to undervalue us.

That’s why I’m renewing commitments to myself, my colleagues and to my patients. 2026 is the year I will advocate for my value and worth.

1. I will stay vigilant, reporting issues and risks to patient safety every time I witness them
2. I will support nursing staff in my team to grow and develop
3. When I work through my breaks, or am asked to stay beyond the end of my shift I will ask for and advocate for myself and my team to receive overtime
4. I will keep track of my professional responsibilities and if I feel I’m working beyond my band get my job re-evaluated

Nursing today isn’t just difficult, it’s dangerous–and that needs to change. It’s not fair on nursing staff, and it’s not fair on patients. They deserve more, and so do we.

We need reforms–direct negotiations and nursing pay reforms that will put our profession on the right path. So that every new nurse has a career path that will let them grow, develop and be recognised for their skills.

Many of these investments are in the hands of governments. But not all of them. There are changes we can make every day to fight for our value in our own workplaces.

Nursing is everything. And nursing is worth more.