Hospital Nurse Grades

[MTbowels]

I've just come back from visiting a relative in hospital. Does anyone know anything about UK modern hospital nurse grades please? I had a chat about my relative with a "staff nurse" in a light blue uniform who wasn't able to provide me with the information I needed.

The staff nurse went to fetch a RGN (Registered General Nurse) in a white dress with blue shoulder epaulettes, who was able to answer my questions. Curiously, the RGN seemed a little uneasy answering my questions in the presence of the staff nurse. Is a staff nurse more senior to a RGN? Is there somewhere on the web I can clarify the seniority of these grades in the UK?

thank you.

[roxie_09]

i thought a RGN was a staff nurse :S.. i know in some trusts the uniform is going through a change.. for example in cardiff staff nurses have to start wearing pale blue scrub-like uniforms, although the uniform at the moment is a white tunic with pale blue stripes..

[MTbowels]

Rowanwitch, the nurse was wearing a badge on her tunic that gave her name and the words "staff nurse" beneath.

[MTbowels]

Rowanwitch, having looked at your last post again, I'm even more confused now - what's a "charge nurse" and where do they fit in this hierarchy?

[Sqad]

MT...I dont know the answer to that, but "Charge Nurse" was always a MALE nurse SRN or not.......the whole thing is a bloody mess and needs re-organizing, but the British public look upon their NHS as a "sacred cow".........."the Envy of the World" ....and until that changes then the NHS will remain the same, good in parts and unacceptable in others.

Chaffinch....LOL.....us "Hospital Porters" did well from the undertakers, in the past............but do even better now.

[mike11111]

In military hospitals the charge nurse was a male NCO whilst a staff nurse was a female NCO. Sisters (RGNs) were commissioned officers who were addressed as 'Sister' when on duty and as 'Ma'am' when off duty. Ordinary nurses were addressed as 'nurse' if female and by rank (private or Corporal) if male. A pity that military hospitals have now gone - the standard of care was first class - I speak from experience as a patient at Catterick military hospital.

[Sqad]

mike....I agree....the bottom line was ..DISCIPLINE. which was once the basis of NHS care in the past, directed by a Matron.

DISCIPLINE is a modality that now is sadly missing and the concept is now made worse by confusion and blind loyalty to a system that is inefficient and "haemorrhaging" tax payers money.

[Chaffinch]

Sqad. The only thing that remains the same is that ................you never get a poor undertaker, and never will!!!

[Sqad]

Chaffinch...;-)

[AllShallBeWell]

Hi, a Staff Nurse & RGN are the same. RGN is an older term for RN. The 'RGN' you spoke to make have been incharge or the nurse looking after your relative.