I think I need to leave my career.... scared. A penny for your thoughts....

[Iwonder777]

Basically, I'm a specialist nurse.

Love the job itself (the patient aspects) but have come to the realisation with a broken heart that there's just TOO MUCH of the job to ever do.

I'm constantly on the back foot despite being known to be a conscientious caring capable nurse

The system can't seem to change ...,,,so I know I must leave before a) I burnout out completely or b) god forbid, I drop a ball.

I just can't do everything expected by the bosses. And this is with my staying late and coming in early.

My colleagues are in the same boat. Many leaving, many retiring as quick as possible. High sickness rates.

The thing is I love the job but it seems unanimous across the board that this service is now run on a show string with a higher expectation to deliver specialist care than ever

so in essence, what could I do next?

In terms of dipping my toe in the water of a possible career Change?

Nursing is all I know. I like shifting mountains for patients.

I don't feel I want to go back to my original branch of nursing.

I've a 3 year nursing degree and postgrad diploma. Both with distinction.

Thanks for any tips/help/advice.

Have a look to see if there is a Big Pharma company that’s looking for nurse advisors.

Infection control?
Speaking to management about how your role could be changed to be more realistic? What if you had support? Or less admin? Try to see if there is some way of changing from the inside before you leave?

I should say I'm psych trained prior to then becoming a public health nurse.

Teaching nursing maybe?

I spoke with occ health. They said to ask for a stress risk assessment. The advisor said bosses roll their eyes at being asked to complete these but I'm considering it.

I just know if I don't do something I'm going to burn out entirely. I could already walk away but I'm the breadwinner.

Thanks for suggestions. I'll explore these!

I think you need a special qualification to teach nursing on top of what I've got?

I would love to teach would be shT scared but would give it a go

Gosh such a shame to hear you're considering leaving.
Don't know how you'd feel about this but could you consider working in a private setting? A friend of mine who was a midwife moved into a private maternity hospital and she loved her job again, gave her proper time to spend with her patients

With your excellent background I think you would be able to find another well paid job that suits you better. Be patient and look around extensively.

Good luck.

What about being a school nurse?

Would you consider moving out to the community? It has different pressures but you are able to spend a bit of time with the patients and you have a huge variety of care needs to treat

It sounds like your in the public sector. If so, is there a role in the private sector where the expectations and management of staff (and pay) tend to be higher?

*you're

This is called burnout. V common but hard to manage.
Try to cut hours or take a break if you can. Make sure they actually let you take all your AL and comp time for a bit and see if the world looks different.

I work 14+PA paid for 10 and always feel
Like I’m on the back foot too. I’m worried I’m spread so thin that a serious error or omission is imminent.
All requests for more appropriate staffing levels are met with a statement about ‘living within your means’. Underfunding is no joke, particularly as there are people at the end of it, staff and patients.

Could you work in primary care? I work in a GP surgery and the nurses (some of them ex secondary care) don’t seem too stressed...

Thanks for the suggestions.

In truth, I've lost sight of my next steps.

I feel like a bit sad and like I'm a supposed nurse specialist failure by not being able to cope with the work of ten men

health visitor?

Would you like to stay in healthcare? Or are you open or hoping to try something completely new? It sounds like you have a load of transferrable skills, but it would be a shame to lose you from the profession (although understandable). Would standard working hours be preferable? Or shifts? I find working backwards sometimes helps, think of the aspects that are important and see what fits.

Also no you are not a failure, the system is failing all of the staff.

Lots of nurses drop back into more junior roles. I've never met one who regretted it.

Another Trust may potentially have a different culture. If you're in acute, community may be a bit better (it is around here).

What would happen if you worked only your contracted hours?

I'm just so upset as I'm now skilled at what I do loads of training and a heart for the patients yet I feel like I have to leave so I personally stay well and am not at risk of messing up. I could sob. As if I'm thinking like this, countless other health professionals must fear being pushed over the edge too. Do you jump or do you fall?

I don't specifically know about teaching nursing but in general university lecturers train on the job. You generally have to complete a portfolio. You might also be able to teach psychology too. You might be able to do it part time teaching and part time nursing.

If I worked only my hours children would potentially remain at great risk. I do a lot of unpicking risk to formulate better lives for children. This takes time, where there is next to none, on top of huge caseloads. There is no cognisance from aboves; more a 'you're a specialist, get on with it'. My own children are losing out. And I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I'm just disappointed in myself.

I know that sounds ridiculous.

You need to put yourself first op.
I'm not sure what else you can do but I'm sure there are lots of other options.
If your employer cannot or will not lighten your workload then look for another job.

You're dissapointed as you care about your job, but you also (rightly) care about your family, and the 2 don't sound compatible at the moment, through no fault of your own. Be dissapointed at the state of your work place, but please not at yourself. Have you considered Health Play Worker or something? I can't remember the name but my cousin when to a specialist school and one of the nurses was a play therapist or something along those lines; she was incredible and made such a difference to his life. Are there any avenues like that?