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 ?

@Stompythedinosaur I know I do think it's awful timing . Sorry to hear it's so bad for you . Have toy been redeployed at all?

My (short) experience of being back in the NHS was brutal, and that was before Covid hit. If I’d done the shadow shift / HCA work before going back I don’t think I’d have applied for a ward based role. I’m about to be interviewed for community but I’m not sure that’s much better tbh. But it’s that or not be able to revalidate next year... if I could go back to my OOH triage job I’d be there in a heartbeat, I loved it.

Might be difficult to get in for informal visits at the moment though.

I’ve seen they’re considering drafting the 3rd year students into contracts early again, which suggests how things still lie.

Would you employer allow you to study? Maybe that’ll fill the gap for now?

It's predicted that a lot of NHS professionals will change role or career path after the height of the pandemic is resolved. It's very likely because of this there will be more opportunities for returners further down the line, potentially with enhanced Ts&Cs. I would hold tight for now and review in a few months. In the meantime you could formulate a plan including refreshed training/additional skills, networking and/or shadowing as PPs suggest.

Hi I’m in the NHS Patient facing and to be honest I wouldn’t just now especially not for a pay drop , that would be soul destroying , jobs really aren’t what they are normally at present .

Hi OP, I am not in the same position but am in similar. Currently in an NHS role but not usually frontline. Working frontline at the moment though as redeployed due to COVID. A job has come up on a unit I know well. Slight pay cut and back to the coal face. Seriously tempted. I desperately miss clinical stuff and not sure how long I can do what is essentially office work with all its frustrations. Was desperate to be redeployed to be able to help during Covid.

But I know how awful it is right now so I just don’t know. On the other hand it is a lovely unit and jobs hardly ever come up on there as the management is excellent. I have no idea what the best thing to do is.

@StompythedinosaurI know I do think it's awful timing . Sorry to hear it's so bad for you . Have toy been redeployed at all?

I have been lucky not to be redeployed, but I have been left in a team that is seriously short staffed due to redeployment and is still working with people who have Covid.

@hoppyr I'm an HCA on a surgical ward, all our ops were cancelled for the foreseeable future & we have mostly all care medical patients who are recovering from Covid. Some staff on the ward have caught Covid.
It's really hard physically & mentally; I'm suffering from anxiety attacks which I take promethazine at work for which doesn't affect my ability to work it just relaxes me.
Everyone else is having a hard time too.

So I think unless you are really really keen I would stay put until Covid is over.

Meant to say the staff Nurses are finding the complex social issues & discharges of the medical patients very tough as they're used to straightforward surgical patients.

How small is the trust you've applied to? Are you likely to encounter that recruiting manager when you next apply? Don't underestimate a busy nurses ability to hold a grudge, if you've accepted and now back out he / she may not offer you a post again. Just a consideration

@Flickoffboris haven't accepted it yet.

@hoppyr sorry meant to say offered rather than accepted. I know it shouldn't be the way, but you may not get offered again if the manager holds a grudge

@Flickoffboris I understand what you mean .I have 3 other hospitals closer to me so hopefully I could apply there if I wanted to. I still haven't decided although I am waiting for the manager to get back to me on something else

I did exactly this, moved from 2 long days a week to 3 short days in a CNS role, my pay has dropped quite a bit and now we are paying for more child care. However I have much more job satisfaction, I can develop my role to make it my own and there is more scope. I haven’t been redeployed, yet.. I don’t regret moving jobs.

Thank you for input @YouWontBelieveYourEyes . I have had a superb response on this thread . I am so pleased you are enjoying it. That's exactly what mine would be going from 2 long days to 3 9-5

I do think I need to think more long term
My current role the pay does not increase . Just maybe £100 per year it's dire . I feel I am stuck and lacking progression here .

I’m a CNS, community based & understand what you mean about wanting to know there is development/progression in the role.

If it was me, given the sacrifices you’ll be making, it would have to be my dream job to take it. Don’t feel like this may be your only option, jobs come up in the NHS all the time. I’d also be wary of the level of responsibility you’ll be carrying at band 6. Most CNS I know are band 7 or above

I’m a band 6 CNS.