Would you make this NHS job move?

[Snowdunder]

I currently work in the hospital doing night shifts, two a week. This brings in fairly good money because of the unsociable pay. The downside is that I’m ill all the time, there are some unpleasant characters I have to work with and I’m constantly exhausted and snappy at home because of the night shifts.

I could move to community work, doing 9-5 three days a week. I’d have good autonomy over my workload and be much less tired, but it does mean seeing slightly less of my children. There would be a loss of unsociable pay, so money-wise we’re worse off.

On paper it looks like a no-brainer to me but part of me thinks I’m fairly young in my career and I’m taking the easy way out, rather than growing a thicker skin and coping with some toxic cliques at work. I enjoy the hospital work a lot, but not the long shifts and shorter shifts aren’t an option. I worry I’ll be going to community and become deskilled and thought of as a lesser professional. Logically that shouldn’t be the case, I know. Any thoughts?

Absolutely go on the community, I wouldn’t ever work in hospital again.

Will you not need b/f club and afc for those 3 days so even more cost?

I would move to the 9-5 shifts as for me sleep is the key to everything else in my life; just can’t function well without it. This could be different for you but for most people this holds true.
Is there any opportunity for you to pick up locum shifts flexibly at the position you at right now? Or any other locum work in other capacities

I left the nhs completely as the toxic work environment was unbearable. In every position. It’s just the general “martyr” mentality and the refusal to help colleagues because everyone’s workload is so unmanageable. I got sick of being told no, I can’t do that, and being snapped at for asking people to take on tasks that were in their remit. It’s not about growing a thicker skin, the entire organisation needs more staff to change the culture.

anyway. Two key points- what are your career goals? Will the community job have a big impact on that? The second, can you afford the pay cut?

do you do any other shifts or just the nights? I do nights but 2 per set - so 4 day shifts, 2 night shifts, days off. 2 nights on their own would be great- it’s the 6am starts on days I hate!

We can just about afford the pay cut. It will mean no holidays and having to be a lot more careful, but we can technically afford it. I don’t speak to many people who regret the move into community, but I do feel sad about the move. Perhaps because it doesn’t feel like it’s really on my own terms. I feel like I’m being pushed by it being unworkable due to the people and shifts, rather than not enjoying the work.

I felt exactly like you when working in the acute hospitals
I now work 2 nights a week in a 16 bed community hospital and i absolutely love it

Could you look at a different ward or try small community hospitals?

I could never go back to day shifts. I could not afford wrap around care, child care in holidays etc. The pay drop is just not worth it