The government's rhetoric is upbeat...but, as our survey reveals, there is a chasm between the rhetoric and the nurses' raw experience

Mark Radcliffe, Nursing Times

However, the survey which is based on replies to a questionnaire in the magazine found that 65% have felt proud to be a nurse in the past month.

It also reveals that the vast majority, some 88%, would report errors or mistreatment by colleagues.

Nevertheless, just 23% said they believed the health service 'is safe in the hands of the present government'.

A total of 86% identified more staff and more pay as crucial to improving their working lives.

Record defended

Health Secretary Alan Milburn told the magazine that the government was addressing the concerns of nurses.

'I think the 14,000 additional nursing staff who have either joined or returned to the NHS in the past year speak most loudly about the NHS.

'The reason more nurses are working for the health service is that the government's programme of investment and reform is helping to address their very real concerns.'

But shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "It is saddening and worrying that so many dedicated nurses feel they could not recommend nursing as a career."

Nursing Times features editor Mark Radcliffe said: "The government's rhetoric is upbeat. It says it has recruited thousands of new nurses, boosted nurses' pay and made the working patterns more flexible.

'But, as our survey reveals, there is a chasm between the rhetoric and the nurses' raw experience.'