THERE are 26,000 nurses in the public health services, off whom 17,000 are staff nurses in general hospitals and 4,600 are psychiatric nurses.
Both categories work a 39 hour week and are on a nine point pay scale. The general staff nurse salary rises from £13,552 to £17,485 and that for psychiatric nurses from £14,151 and £17,605.
Most staff nurses earn £2,500 to £3,000 a year extra through overtime and shift premiums. However, about 10 per cent of staff nurses based in out patient and five day wards have few opportunities for overtime and more than 20 per cent of psychiatric nurses are community based, with little or no overtime.
There are 1,350 public health nurses earning between £18,662 and £20,540.
There are 2,500 ward sisters earning between £17,822 and £19,727.
There are 370 nurse managers, earning between £20,000 and £27,815.
