Should I return to face to face nursing ?

[hoppyr]

Hello

Hoping for some advice

I am a registered nurse

I currently use my nursing skills in an office based role. I work 12.5 hour shifts (x 2 ) part time per week.

I have been offered a face to face band 6 CNS post within my specialty area with the nhs. Although on paper it's a very slight increase to pay I will be approx £400 short due to loss of weekend enhancements and unpaid breaks ( current company pay them)

The part time hours will be done over 3 days rather than 2 so we will incur additional nursery fees for our daughter.

I have been qualified a few years now and my goal has always been to be a CNS, should I just take the leap and go for it ?

Could you do it in a couple of years when you wont end up financially penalised for it (assuming you're happy in youre current role?)

£450+ per month seems a lot to drop

Thank for for reply , I am unhappy in current role. There isn't any progression tbh I feel stuck, I feel the longer I am here the harder it will be to leave due to being " non clinical" even though I am maintaining my nursing pin and clinical in the office setting via telephone assessments triage etc.

It is a lot . Although if I didn't happen to do many weekends In a month it wouldn't be as much as £400. It's also a one hour commute each way and I'm very close to current office.

I wouldn't.

Perhaps that is selfish but it's horrendous just now.

Do it! We were in the same situ a few years ago with DH's job. He's so much happier and although we couldn't really afford the drop in wages, we tightened our belts and have a happier life even if we have less to spend.

Plus I don't like the sound of your commute in this stage of your life.

Perhaps I'm a bah humbug oops!

What's cns?

What do you do now?

I love face to face nursing and don't feel burnt out. Did you feel burnt out?

@wonderwhatshappening1978 I know it probably is the best time to return to clinic based practice . I have thought they may redeploy me to covid areas .I do feel for everyone on the front line but I have been getting anxiety at the thought of dying and leaving my daughter without a mother ( extreme I know ) I guess it's just may anxieties building up as my job is very safe at the moment and I realise I am lucky for that.

@Chlordiazepoxide clinical nurse specialist . No I didn't feel burnt out I kind of fell into the office based role . I didn't intend to do for long always wanted something else but have stayed there a few years now and need a change.

What speciality is it? I assumed that you have looked for similar roles in other private settings? Private hospitals? Clinics? I've always found far more flexibility in pay and conditions going outside the NHS.

@Chlordiazepoxide office base similar to 111 but in a specialist more focused area .

@wonderwhatshappening1978 I think for me I have been feeling like I am wasting my nurse training , even guilty for sitting on the phone all shift and still being registered . I am in a bit of a pickle really

@hoppyr I did my return to practice a couple of years ago. Prior to that I had been a nurse assessor / telephone triage and although wasn’t face to face as such, I still had pt contact.

With hindsight, I wish I’d gone back with my eyes more open. Going back into the NHS after a break was a shock, a lot had changed in the 7 years I was out and I didn’t cope well with it. If I could turn back time, I would have worked some shadow shifts / HCA (as I was unregistered) to get a feel for it before jumping in with both feet.

Could you do the same with the current CNS? Find out key information that will help your decision- even if it’s just something like the difference between contracted hours and the real hours worked?

Get enough information to make a properly informed choice. Good luck with whatever you decide.

@Eleoura Parkinson's . I have found private not to be flexible at all really. The offer I have from
Nhs has come with set days and hours.

Thank you @BabbleBee that is a great idea. I think I will ask to shadow /meet team discuss further for a couple
Of hours . As it really is such a massive change . Going from
Advising purely on the phone ( 5 minute drive / work from home ) to a lot more responsibility and an hour commute .

I'm just worried you'll go in and be eaten up just now.

People are leaving the nhs in droves because of the pressure; and you have a little one to consider.

I'm sorry if I'm doom and gloom but selfishly if I were you, I'd stay put for a while longer.

@wonderwhatshappening1978 thank you for your honesty.I do feel I am seeing things through rose tinted glasses at present . I realise that my idea of hell the call centre is probably a nurses dream ( who is going through true hell right now on the wards )

@wonderwhatshappening1978 yes I do have my daughter to consider In all this . I have a good work life balance at balance get to do
My 25 hours over 2 days rather than 3 so have plenty of time with her

Please sit tight.

Too many potential risk factors.

It would be like going into a furnace.

It won't be forever.

@wonderwhatshappening1978 I understand . Are you nursing nhs at the moment ?

Was.

No longer.

Similar post to you by sounds of things.... in fact was band 7.

Have my life back.

Don't do it unless you're Teflon woman.

I was not. Am not. Regret it not. X

Sounds like it was dire . I am happy you have life back now . Thank Your for your advice xx

What aspect of the CNS role are you striving for? Is it the training aspect, pay, respect etc? If your specialism has been parkinsons, have you considered clinical research roles in parkinsons/memory disorders? Roles with Age UK or other specialist parkinsons services? Working in a memory clinic as a CNS? Being a trainer to care home staff/agency staff about parkinsons? Being a rep for parkinsons/memory based meds/products?

A rep wouldnt usually be family friendly, but just another idea to think outside the box. Have you signed up for job alerts under different job roles? I personally would avoid NHS, especially hospital based ones, if you had been working outside it for sometime.

I'm a Specialist Nurse currently. There is no way on earth I would do this if you have any other option. Nursing was always very draining, but everything is so much worse at the moment. The stress is awful.

Don't underestimate how draining it is to be in full PPE all day, either.

@Eleoura I wish to continue professional development , develop training wise maybe do my prescribing. I am very limited in my current role in terms of access to training, lots of it is in house given a certificate . Very unlikely to do anything recognised out of the business ie credits for masters. Thank you- great ideas !