Practice nurses like their jobs, but many believe their skills are underutilised and they are underpaid, according to a survey of nearly 1700 nurses.

Some 80% of nurses, surveyed by Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA), reported they are satisfied or very satisfied with their job.

Among the nurses, 69% of whom are working in general practice, patient contact and working as part of interdisciplinary team are seen as great motivators, with one writing: “I have the best job ever”.

But pay and recognition of nurses’ skills remains an ongoing problem, according to the survey responses.