David Oliver: Senior nurses should stand up for nursing

In my 27 years as an NHS hospital doctor, my admiration for nurses in hands-on clinical roles has only grown. Whether staff nurses, ward sisters, charge nurses, specialist practitioners, or consultants, they’re dedicated, skilled, underpaid, and often undervalued. I can’t muster such consistent respect for their senior managers.

One advantage of medical career structures is that senior doctors can remain in clinical roles without losing status or income. It’s hard for doctors in leadership to retain credibility if they no longer practise. This flexibility to return from management gives them independence; not so in nursing. Some executive nurses still use their registration to do …