"You're just a nursery nurse"

"You're just a nursery nurse"

by: Jennifer Miller - 21-10-12 21:11

Hello!  I am taking Higher English at college and my latest assignment is a discursive essay.  I was thinking of doing it on something along the lines of how a number of people (in my 7 years experience as a nursery nurse anyway) look down their noses at nursery nurses and believe we are simply "babysitters" or that "oh, so you just play with kids all day".  I'm hoping some of you might share any experiences you've had of comments like these being made to you, and how it made you feel.  Thank you.  Jen

by: whmon

I was once told (shouted at) that I was just 'a childminder'. Despite me being the owner of the nursery, and having two degrees from one of the best universities in the country. The person who declared me to be 'just a childminder', was a part-time dinner lady. Obviously then, part-time dinner ladies are much higher up the social scale than me and I should learn my place!

by: Blossom

I was a fully qualified (HNC) Nursery Nurse before I did my degree and opened my own nursery. I used to find it frustrating (and if I am honest, a tad hurtful...) when parents and other professionals would not want to speak with NN's regarding what the children had been doing that day / week / term, as they would rather speak to the Nursery Teacher - even though he / she had not actually been working as closely with the child.

I would have been very interested to hear why the parents (or other professionals) felt they would get a better or more in-depth analysis of a child's development from the teacher when they didn't always work directly with the children and sometimes were only in the room a small amount of hours per day / week, rather than speak to the qualified staff that were there and delivered the care and education every day?!?!

Obviously I was aware that it was a perceived hierarchy of roles, but it was none the less frustrating!

by: Smallfry

To be honest with you it is always been thought of as a low status role - due to the low wage.

I have to put up my hands as I thought like the rest of society does before I started volunteering in the sector.

I was shocked at how low workers are treated compared to my other job roles in the past 20 years. 

Pay peanuts get monkeys.

Women should make a stand for proper wages..and don't quip "We don't do it for the money", if this was the case you would be volunteering.

Obviously the tax payers need to contribute towards the low salary via tax credits, or a partner.  xxx

by: purepurple

Actually, smallfry, I have done it voluntarily. My first two jobs in early years were working in and then running community playgroups. All done for no wages.

<<polishes halo>>

Working for minimum wage doesn't seem too bad when you have done it for free

by: Jam

I have to say that i was really sad when nursery nurses were taken out of maternity wards as we were the least qualified. So many new mums needed our support and knowledge. Don't get me started on low pay...because it's a joke. What is annoying is when people say you're only a Nursery Nurse. do you have a degree? Well no i don't but i do have 35yrs on-hand experince with all ages!

by: Jennifer Miller

Thank you for you input everyone!  Wish me luck with my essay :-)