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Original poster

Leave Nursing ?

85 replies

ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 08:26

I’m 47.
I’ve been a Nurse for over 20 years.
I’ve worked in hospital settings. Community. Health Visiting and School Nursing.

On my Pension Statement it says my Normal Pension Age is 60 as I stated before May 2006.

I’m staying so that I can retire somewhere between 55-60.

I hate it though but worry if I leave I will regret that I walked away from a good pension.

I also don’t know what else I could do.

I have applied for other jobs outwith the NHS and never get an Interview

I even applied for one of the PIP assessor jobs although I hear mixed things but got knocked back.

Would I be Unreasonable to stay for the Pension?

OP posts:
Bugsy73 · 25/02/2026 20:03

ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 19:46

@Girliefriendlikespuppies I’m currently in Camhs which is ok.

il not sure how to search outside of Scotland but in Scotland you go to SPPA and it’s really easy to find your Pension Statement.
there is a good Facebook Group, think called Pen-Gage Ltd. A woman called Laura runs it and she will let you know where to search for your statements

I'm a childrens nurse, left ward work 10yrs ago, did school nursing, then immunising, and have been working in CAMHS for 18 months. I find it soul destroying! Refreshing NHS jobs every 15 mins or so . There isn't anything! I'm old, so I only have the diploma which is a bit limiting, I'm lucky to have a band 6. Also RSCN is so limiting! I wish I'd done adult nursing sometimes. Cannot wait to retire.

Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 19:54

@Amie30I will have a look at the Job Description. I do these posts often come up but think because I’m not Adult Trained that I don’t have the right Qualification

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Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 19:50

@MSJ14I have thought about teaching a few times. A few girls who I know did the SCPHN topped up their Qualifications to Masters to enable them to teach. I always felt I was too old but maybe I should look into this again.

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Amie30 · 25/02/2026 19:50

If you’re in Scotland what about NHS 24 roles?

Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 19:49

@LoudTealHareI think under the McCloud Judgment you can choose to have your 2015 rolled back to 2008?
I think, I’d have to go and read up on it all again. I know when I spoke to Laura at Pen-Gage she explained it well and I think it meant it would work out better for me if I wanted to retire at 60.

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Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 19:46

@Girliefriendlikespuppies I’m currently in Camhs which is ok.

il not sure how to search outside of Scotland but in Scotland you go to SPPA and it’s really easy to find your Pension Statement.
there is a good Facebook Group, think called Pen-Gage Ltd. A woman called Laura runs it and she will let you know where to search for your statements

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Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 19:43

Thanks @Birch101I do often just put Health Visiting in the Search and there is always posts for Glasgow and other parts of Scotland. It’s only Edinburgh that hasn’t advertised since 2023, just taking on their SCPHN students.
I lost my parents within 8 weeks and walked away from Health Visiting. I now realise it was probably a knee jerk reaction and I probably should have went part time not walked away .

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LoudTealHare · 25/02/2026 19:20

ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 09:22

@PippipumpkinI regularly check my Pension Statement but it’s currently only showing up to 2022 while the NHS recalculates factoring in the McCloud judgement. Not sure when this will be remedied.

Remember you can only take your 1995 and 2008, not the 2015. If you take the 2008 before you’re 65 you will get a reduced amount. I did a flexible retirement last year and took my 1995 section. It was the best thing I did, I now work part time but was allowed to remain in my senior sister post, not all trusts allow this though!

Birch101 · 25/02/2026 19:06

Our local trust has just started a digital health visiting team so it's 1 day a month in practice doing visits and the rest wfh attending meetings and dealing with queries

Might be worth casting a wider net as I know some areas really need HVs

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 25/02/2026 19:00

Hi op I’m the same age, qualified in 2003.

Where are you working now? I’ve gone into a specialist nurse post and am really happy in this role.

As a side note, how do you look at your pension pot? I probably should check mine out 😬

TodoRonnieRonRon · 25/02/2026 18:31

Because of how old I am I could take my pension at 55 and then worked 2 days. I managed to work long enough so (hopefully) I will get full state pension when or if I get there. I couldn't go on as the stress almost killed me! I would say if you are younger look at other options as from what my colleagues tell me it is getting worse. I was a HV when I finished. I know how hard it is but difficult to find jobs out of nursing that pay reasonably well if you have to start at the bottom. Good luck.

MSJ14 · 25/02/2026 18:24

I agree, life is too short.

What about teaching nursing? You might have to complete a teaching qualification though, but it will definitely pass some time inching you closer to your pension, plus teaching pensions are fairly decent.

ThisZanyPinkSquid · 25/02/2026 18:15

Nursing can be a thankless job at times and there can be toxic work environments unfortunately too. You maybe haven’t found what ignites a spark in you. I know for me I went into a speciality I love and never looked back!

Blanknotebook · 25/02/2026 18:06

I am so grateful for my NHS pension. It is far more than the state pension.

Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 09:57

@ByQuaintAzureWasp my NPA on my Pension Statement is 60, this is through SPPA and because I joined before May 2006. It’s what makes me reluctant to leave.
i am on a few NHS Pension pages on Facebook. Also always checking my SPPA statement

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Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 09:53

That sounds great @MrsBenevolent
I do get approached for a lot of ADHD assessor jobs on LinkedIn but I’m torn about leaving the NHS, because of the pension 🙈

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MrsBenevolent · 25/02/2026 09:50

Definitely beef up LinkedIn. I get approached for lots of jobs there and also where I found my last two roles.

Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 09:41

I am on a Mailing list for Care Commission jobs in Scotland.

I maybe need to start following some other pages on LinkedIn

Occupational Therapy sounds good. Will check this out

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Pippipumpkin · 25/02/2026 09:39

Could you get someone to look at your applications, make sure you are really selling yourself and ticking the boxes in terms of meeting the person spec?

@FakeTwix is that true about occy health? I am a children's nurse by background (which may alter things), but have the scphn qualification and loads of experience assessing and writing reports. I have always discounted occy health as thought you need to be adult background?

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 25/02/2026 09:39

Surely your NOA is 68. Go on .gov and check it. Also look at putting more into your NHS pensions if possible.
Get a state pension forecast and also a forecast for NHS pension if you take it at 60, 65, 68.
Knowledge is power!
Join the Facebook group on NHS pensions.

Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 09:36

@Lemonade2011no I have completed the SCPHN Course.
I left Health Visiting and now there haven’t been any HV jobs advertised where I live for 3 years.
I was a Staff Nurse in School Nursing. Couldn't get on the Course for School Nursing as they said I had the qualification and couldn’t get a post as Band 6 as they said I didn’t have the right qualification 🤯

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MrsBenevolent · 25/02/2026 09:32

Someone mentioned the CQC, that could be a good shout?

Are you following potential companies in LinkedIn or reaching out to specialist recruitment agencies?

Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 09:25

Thanks for suggestions, will check these out.
I am on LinkedIn but don’t seem to see the right roles.
I have also applied for a couple of NMC Roles that came up but didn’t get an interview

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Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 09:23

Thanks @MrsBenevolent I do think I would hate what you describe.
I do know some people who have made it work 🤷🏼‍♀️

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Original poster
ohsotired2022 · 25/02/2026 09:22

@PippipumpkinI regularly check my Pension Statement but it’s currently only showing up to 2022 while the NHS recalculates factoring in the McCloud judgement. Not sure when this will be remedied.

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