Nurses - do you enjoy your job?

[DratThatCat]

Im 41 and I really, really, really want to start my nursing training in a couple of years when both of my kids are at high school, but after reading the midwife thread on AIBU I'm worried about what I'm letting myself in for. I know nursing has never been an easy job, its thankless and underfunded, but is bullying common? Are patient lives being put at risk because of staff shortages? Do you ever regret being a nurse? Any insights are much appreciated!

Yeah thinking about it I should have gone into podiatry instead.

@ClockworkNightingale you have this spot on, exactly why I left ward the wards. I would never ever go back.

@ClockworkNightingale's description of a ward is spot on. Brings back horrible memories.

@ClockworkNightingale has it spot on.

Just need to add in the constant criticism for "not even being able to take Mr Smith a cup of tea" and "chatting at the nurse station".

I am a nurse who left nhs to work in a private sector because I just had enough.

Think v carefully before you become a nurse. I saw some of the most horrendous things, and dealt with some of the most upsetting things imaginable, and was paid badly, poorly supported and basically bullied at times during my time as a clinical nurse.

If you want to do a career helps people and has general better prospects (goes up pay band quicker) have u looked at radiography? Physiotherapist? Occupational therapy? Etc

Nursing is great if you want to feel like you are doing good, but the nhs doesn’t care on out you and will wear you down.

Sorry to be negative but that was my experience

Oh also OP, one thing to consider is shifts. I found as a student, I had to work whatever my mentor was working…nights, weekends. I had no kids at the time but I remember having to beg to do different shifts to go on a hen weekend! Annoying but just what I had to do. Harder when you have kids! Do you have a supportive partner or family?

Yes op AHP are physios, occupational therapists, podiatrists, dieticians, radiographers, speech and language therapists. I'm one of them and 2 of my children work in the same hospital one of whom is a nurse. I went to uni at 43 with three children and still work in the same trust in my 60s, mainly A & E/urgent care which I love. Ward nurses definitely have a much more stressful job mainly due to low staffing levels (as previously stated by many the person saying 4-6 nurses chatting instead of looking after patients is ridiculous as there are never that many nurses on a normal ward!) my youngest child hated ward work but has found a niche job that suits him in out patients. That is a benefit of nursing, there is such a wide variety of jobs that if you don't like something there is always plenty of other roles to choose from and due to the shortages none of us will ever be out of work!

I work in mental health, in an inpatient setting.

I love my work, it's stressful and sometimes it's like wading through treacle. We are struggling with staffing but we make it work. My colleagues are supportive and caring and work tirelessly for positive change in our patient's lives.

I would recommend mental health, but only if you have tough skin and can take life on the chin.

Clockworknightingale that is so accurate, I put in years of that and finally walked away recently. I'm now teaching, not without its stresses but nothing compared to ward nursing, if Imake a mistake a life is not on the line.Ive told my children never to go into nursing, I'd hate that for them. They assure me that they won't, they've seen enough through me.

I Have been a district nurse for twenty years , would love to get out of it. So vunerable so much litigation ,unsupported by your managers . I use to love my job. Go homeworrying , shattered, cant get time back, cant get overtime , sorry to sound so negative the lazy bullys get to the top

There are loads of opportunities but most of the jobs seem to be on the wards. Some wards just have high attrition rates and cannot retain their staff because of ward culture, speciality etc
The jobs with autonomy, less stress, probability of not being bullied and generally more respect off patients like specialist nurse, advanced nurse practitioner, research nurse - tend to be in short supply and are very competitive on application. People tend to stay in those jobs precisely because they are like that so there's not much movement. Often they demand additional qualifications which are difficult to acquire unless you are already working in that field. There was a vacancy for a band 5 alcohol nurse at my trust but they wanted extensive experience in nursing patients with liver disease (which I had) but also an area specific qualification (which I didn't). Often it's just a case of being in the right place, often the team already have their eye on someone.

@einekleinenachtarbeit

There are loads of opportunities but most of the jobs seem to be on the wards. Some wards just have high attrition rates and cannot retain their staff because of ward culture, speciality etc The jobs with autonomy, less stress, probability of not being bullied and generally more respect off patients like specialist nurse, advanced nurse practitioner, research nurse - tend to be in short supply and are very competitive on application. People tend to stay in those jobs precisely because they are like that so there's not much movement. Often they demand additional qualifications which are difficult to acquire unless you are already working in that field. There was a vacancy for a band 5 alcohol nurse at my trust but they wanted extensive experience in nursing patients with liver disease (which I had) but also an area specific qualification (which I didn't). Often it's just a case of being in the right place, often the team already have their eye on someone.

I can atest to this. I have quals for a nurse practitioner job but really struggled to get a full NP role - roles were generally given to those who were already working as NPs but just wanted a change of scenery. The only way I got 'in' was by accepting a Practice Nurse role that was combined with a NP role - and this was only offered because I was known to the management in that surgery.

Ward jobs are so common because its hard work and people dont stay long and tend to be peoples first job in Nursing. There are practice nurse jobs out there for the newly qualified but they're so rare - most want experience in long term condition management.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene I’m a practice nurse, for the next few weeks before I move to community anyway. The recruitment time bomb is well and truly ticking in GPN’s, is it 2/3rd of us are over 50? Something like that anyway.

@LakesideView

Oh also OP, one thing to consider is shifts. I found as a student, I had to work whatever my mentor was working…nights, weekends. I had no kids at the time but I remember having to beg to do different shifts to go on a hen weekend! Annoying but just what I had to do. Harder when you have kids! Do you have a supportive partner or family?

DH is supportive but I dont think he likes the idea of me not being around much for however long it takes for me to train and then get a job with good hours. But he knows it's time for him to support my career now as I've supported his for the last 10 years.

There's lots to think about. I think a HCA role is the first step for me and I'll decide from there if I want to take it further. I'm going to look into AHP roles as well.

Thanks so much for sharing, it's been invaluable. Its heartbreaking reading the stories of those of you who have been/are struggling. In this day and age, with everything we know about best practice and mental health, it really shouldn't be like this.

Been a nurse now 22 years and absolutely love it. I'm a palliative care nurse specialist in the community. So much flexibility, I work with amazing people and an amazing organization.
I can honestly say in all my nursing career I have never encountered bullying and bitchy behavior - I have always worked in oncology and palliative care though.
I love what I did but you do feel responsible, lack of care in the community exacerbates this for me.
Would I do anything else though - no I wouldn't

ohwhattodowithmylife I'd love to do palliative care. Death is such a taboo in our culture but it happens to everyone. Not that palliative care = death, I know. Is it hard to detach yourself from your patients?

@ohwhattodowithmylife you have my dream job! If I can get funding sorted I’ll be starting my MSc next year and then plan to specialise in community palliative care.

[quote MonkeyPuddle]@Letsallscreamatthesistene I’m a practice nurse, for the next few weeks before I move to community anyway. The recruitment time bomb is well and truly ticking in GPN’s, is it 2/3rd of us are over 50? Something like that anyway.[/quote]
Yes its something like that. In my area the local uni is offering a post grad 'Foundations to GPN' course. Its a terrible course and its only offered if your in a GPN role which makes access hard if you want to do practice nursing but havnt got the relevant experience, but at least they recognise they need to recruit and develop newly qualified nurses into the role. The method of recruitment just needs to be fine tuned a little.

The thing about being a nurse is that it's a term that encompasses most others people's speciality.
Every shift I am a;
Nurse
Physio
OT
Pharmacist
Porter
Ward clerk
Bed manager
Phlebotomist
Domestic
Tea maker
Social worker
Therapist
And often feel like a doctor as patients so often wait until the doctors have gone and then ask the nurse to explain whats going on.

As a nurse you have to do everything and pick up what's not done by others.

@DratThatCat
I always see it that if you don't connect with patients and their families you really aren't doing your job as best you can. Some patients will get to you more than others and that's why things like clinical supervision and a supportive team are really important along with self care.
The benefits and satisfaction that's comes with the role I feel outweighs the negatives.
Wish you the best of luck x

@BabbleBee it's a great job, good luck with the MSc - I'm looking to do mine in the next few years too x

I can't speak for myself because I'm just standing in the way of training to be a nurse. But my older sister, who is now 40 years old, has been working in this field for a long time, and she's proud to be a nurse. She recently read this article www.hashtagnursing.com/career-guide/military-nurse/ and wanted to become a military nurse to help the Red Cross. She always believed that she could do more than just give injections at the clinic. Yes, she still considers this job grateful and receives money for this. But she also wants to be a volunteer who will go himself to help people in dire need in a country with a difficult political situation.

22 years qualified as a nurse now Band 8b as as a prescribing ANP. Love my job, I have not always - particularly in the early days it does take a tough skin, also it really is dependant on the ward/area you work in. I can honestly say there is no bullying in my workplace - the one instance was dealt with swiftly. I have enjoyed my career, I love working closely with patients and developing a good relationship with them. I would never consider another career. I may not say this in another 27 years when I due to retire !

Honestly I think you'd be mad to do it in your 40s. It only gets harder as you get older from a physical point of view. I won't repeat all the why nots already expressed on this thread.

I am 49 and in past year I've left clinical practice and management and I'm now teaching. I don't know myself, Monday to Friday, and decent Annual Leave. Although I'm busy and have to bring work home it pales into insignificance compared to days nights, missing celebrations and holidays. No one ringing me begging me to come in, no worries about killing someone due to being so short staffed. Don't do it is my advice.