AN IRISH nurse’s tweet has gone viral after she shared an image of her pay slip for two weeks’ work.
Joanna Hickey shared the image of her pay for a fortnight, which she claims is ‘near the top of the scale wages’.
The image suggests that her net pay as an intensive care unit nurse for the period was just €1,120.80 (£1,000, $1,285).
A friendly reminder of what an ICU (BSc RGN/ PgD ICU/ PgD CCU) nurse's near top of the scale wages looks like for 2 weeks. And if I work weekends and nights away from my child & partner I might make an extra €100. #nursesstrike #Nurses @INMO_IRL pic.twitter.com/gxDGOjcKYx
— Jojo (@misspollyanna) January 9, 2019
“And if I work weekends and nights away from my child & partner I might make an extra €100,” she added.
In follow-up tweets, Hickey outlined just some of the responsibilities of her role, including caring for patients with traumatic brain injuries and helping families deal with social services.
Her post, which has been liked and shared hundreds of times, comes after the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) announced a 24-hour strike over poor staffing levels.
The organisation says the HSE has been unable to recruit and retain enough nurses and midwives on current wages.
Following Hickey’s tweet, people were eager to show their appreciation for her hard work and that of other health professionals in Ireland.
Fairplay Joanna. Crazy you have to even post this to combat the spin. Admins staff of HSE are behind you 100%. We see what hero's you are on a daily basis. I wonder would @NoelRock Or anyone else on the spin machine be willing to post their payslip...
— Kev (@Kev15178851) January 10, 2019
One of my closest friends is a Nurse and will work 12 hour shifts, not because it is simply her job but because it is what her patients need. She is my superhero and I couldn't respect her and her colleagues more! They deserve better! 💜#IStandWithNursesAndMidwives @SimonHarrisTD
— Samantha (@SupaSambo) January 11, 2019
Take it from a retired Nurse/Midwife, I could not do what is expected of them these days. Varadkar, Harris dont know what work https://t.co/ceb6wn8KMv for the other well!!!!!!!
— Mary Wallace (@marywallace07) January 9, 2019
Thanks for sharing Joanna. Anyone who's ever been in hospital knows that nurses (at all levels) are the life blood and the heart of any patients hospital stay. I've no doubt the majority will support you all. We know you deserve so much more..
— Lesley (@MCwconstruction) January 10, 2019
You and all your colleagues in your profession deserve so much more. You all do such a tough job and provide amazing care and support to people in their darkest hours....you should be rewarded and admired @INMO_IRL #nurses
— Christine Loscher (@celoscher) January 12, 2019
According to the INMO website, the starting salary for a registered nurse or midwife is €29,056.
The organisation has said nurses and midwives will go on strike for 24 hours on January 30, as low wages will only prolong understaffing ‘and patient care will be compromised’.
Should the dispute go unresolved, there will be further 24-hour strikes on February 5 and 7 and then on February 12, 13 and 14.
