Nearly a third of all nurses are moonlighting in other jobs to make ends meet, according to a report published yesterday. The survey, by the health union Unison, found that the proportion with a second job had increased sharply over the last year.
Half the moonlighters were shifting as nurses within the NHS, while others were boosting their income in private hospitals or in non-medical work.
The survey also found that nearly eight out of 10 nurses have considered leaving their job and 52% are serious about leaving - up 2% on a year ago. The most common reasons given were feeling undervalued and being poorly paid. Non-registered nurses were more likely to consider leaving because of pay grievances, encouraging the union to demand bigger increases for the lowest paid.
The survey of 3,500 nurses, by the independent research organisation Turu, given in evidence to the sector's independent pay review body, found that less than a third would now recommend the profession as a career.
Gail Adams, chairman of Unison's nursing sector, said: "Last year the pay review body responded positively to our arguments about the need to stop experienced nurses leaving the health service by giving them a pay boost. The lowest paid missed out last year. We cannot afford to let that happen again this year or we risk losing them."
•A separate survey by Health Service Report, an independent journal, found salaries for nurse consultants at the top of the profession's salary scale varied widely between regions and specialties. Consultant nurses in the eastern NHS region were paid almost £5,000 more on average than staff in the north-west.
