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Original poster

NHS workers

159 replies

RoseGardenDreams · 17/08/2018 14:07

What do you do in the NHS and which other professionals do you work alongside who you have (job) envy for? I'm trying to decide which career I should choose and need inspiration!

OP posts:
MargiaStevens · 18/08/2018 20:07

Special Care dentist in the Community Dental Service and love it, but secretly wish I was an A&E consultant!

Catbot · 18/08/2018 20:14

I'm a Learning Disability Nurse.

I love my job and it is immensely rewarding. We need more LD nurses!

MissBax · 18/08/2018 20:17

I'm.a nurse and think any of the allied HCPs have it cushty - SALT, dietitians, OTs
DH is a physio and their degree is HARD.

Boredboredboredboredbored · 18/08/2018 20:17

I'm a Community Matron, we look after people with long term conditions to try and prevent avoidable hospital admissions. I work 8-6 over 4 days no weekends, I live in the area I cover so very convenient and can work admin from home. I have complete autonomy over my day. It's the best nursing job ever so I envy nobody!

ImaMonet · 18/08/2018 20:22

I’m a physio. Don’t really envy anyone... except perhaps those not in the NHS...

And yes, we spent a lot of our training in bra and pants. V.v. hands on. You get used to it though. There’s no such thing as personal space in physio!

ImaMonet · 18/08/2018 20:23

Also yes to the physio degree being hard.

BlueCookieMonster · 18/08/2018 20:33

Student midwife, I envy the doctors. I think I could have been a pretty good doctor.

FaithEverPresent · 18/08/2018 20:34

I tried and failed my SALT degree so I’m inclined to say it’s really hard! Blush

Original poster
RoseGardenDreams · 18/08/2018 20:38

I'm definitely not good with people being in my personal space so physio is out of the question. Do OTs generally have better opportunities/career progression than SLTs?

OP posts:
originalusernamefail · 18/08/2018 20:41

Cardiology sister. I envy Advanced Nurse Practitioners (I’m not clever enough to be one though) and Practice Nurses ( Jobs in my area are like hens teeth).

Charliecatpaws · 18/08/2018 20:44

I’ve worked in the NHS for almost 30 years please excuse my ignorance but what does SALT stand for?

Original poster
RoseGardenDreams · 18/08/2018 20:44

Speech and language therapy

OP posts:
ImaMonet · 18/08/2018 20:47

Re: personal space OP- if I’m honest neither am I but you do get used to it.
Maybe shadow your chosen profession to get an idea of what it’s like before choosing?

Charliecatpaws · 18/08/2018 20:48

Thank you Rose

Gildashairflick · 18/08/2018 21:03

Forensic nurse examiner. I don't envy any other clinician as I have the best of all worlds. I miss ED a little though

Original poster
RoseGardenDreams · 18/08/2018 21:06

Gilda your job must be very emotionally challenging. In your area who else do you work alongside? I'm interested in forensics.

OP posts:
FaithEverPresent · 18/08/2018 21:12

I think most medical careers are quite close contact! I have ASD and am very fussy about personal space and being touched but I find it okay at work but it’s usually on my terms and I always tell the patient what I’m doing (even if they’re unconscious, ahem, or have passed away, I’ll assume they can still hear me!). Speech therapy is probably one of least ‘contact’ professions but they still have to feel patients’ swallows.

Have you considered something like biomedical science?

Faster · 18/08/2018 21:18

Actually I’ve had a further think about this.
I don’t envy them as such, but perfusionists have a very interesting role. The fact they can control a bypass machine with several clips blows my mind a bit!

Original poster
RoseGardenDreams · 18/08/2018 21:19

Faith I have but it doesn't really appeal to me, working in the labs and so on. What did you decide to do instead of salt?

OP posts:
booellesmum · 18/08/2018 21:26

I'm an Orthoptist and absolutely love my job. Been doing it for nearly 30 years and can't imagine doing anything else.

ProseccoThyme · 18/08/2018 21:31

I've a couple of friends who are opticians & think it's a good career. Not sure what the difference is between an orthoptist & optician (if any).

MinesABabyGuiness · 18/08/2018 21:32

I'm a breast care nurse and I envy the radiologists of my department.

ohdeardeardear · 18/08/2018 21:39

Health visitor - I envy SALT & orthotics

Wishicouldsleep · 18/08/2018 21:41

OP have you considered training as a radiographer? Diagnostic in particular.

It's not one of the 'messy' jobs and not too much personal space and touching of patients bodies. (A little obviously but nothing too intimate).

maggycool · 18/08/2018 21:42

I'm a Nurse Practitioner on an acute medical ward and enjoy it but miss being a 'proper' nurse and actually being able to care for my own group of patients rather than just doing ward round, examining them, performing invasive procedures...

But I can't have that without the unsociable hours and frankly my time with my 18 month old is more important than anything so I'm just gonna carry on as I am for now.

Utmost respect for paramedics, midwives and HCA's (the unsung heroes of the NHS!)