How to get out of nursing?

[CheeryGreyTraybake]

I’ve been a registered nurse for five years, working on a ward, and I’m currently off sick due to burnout and bullying from management. I honestly can’t face going back. Nursing has had a huge impact on my mental health, and looking back, I feel absolutely miserable. I don’t know what possessed me to choose this career at 18!

Even though I’m only in my twenties, I feel completely stuck. I don’t know what else I can do with a nursing degree that isn’t nursing — but at the same time, I can’t afford a big pay cut as I have a mortgage to think about.

It’s frustrating, because I loved school and sixth form. I have A-Levels in History, Government & Politics, and English (all A grades) — but I’m not sure they count for much now?

Is it possible to move into something like project management? Or am I stuck, because my degree is in adult nursing? Would I need to do another degree or retrain completely?

I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been through something similar — especially nurses who’ve managed to change careers. Any ideas, advice, or just reassurance would really help, thank you.

Definitely other types of nursing, or how about research and development?

Please can you tell me how your daughter got into project management in the NHS? And was she a nurse? I keep looking on NHS jobs but I don't see any job advertisements for project management.

Thank you. Do you know how I could be redeployed? Is it through contacting HR? I wouldn't want to be moved to another ward setting though.

I like the idea of being a school nurse but I think you need a Child Nursing degree

Tutoring or lecturing at unis that have nursing degrees, teaching your A level subjects or Access to Healthcare at a college? Could you shift sideways into procurement or more senior admin role?

Always makes me laugh when I see these threads and I wait for the suggestions of becoming a community nurse as it is perceived as being so much easier. It isn't. I was a DN for 15 years and the last 12 years I have had a more specialist community role. I was expected to see circa 15 patients over a 7.5 hour shift with very complex visits when I was a DN. I worked in a city with patients with very complex needs. In my current role we simply cannot cope with the tidal wave of referrals into our relatively new community service, we cannot say our beds are full and so we take and take. After 27 years of being qualified I have had a guts full.

Haven’t read the whole thread so apologies if someone’s suggested this, what about a PIP assessor? Work from home and a good starting wage. You have to have a profession (I.e nurse) for that type of role.

I also went into practice nursing, but after limited time in the wards and then 15 years as a district nurse. The hours are so much better although some clinics do evenings and weekends so Monday- Friday is not a given. It’s busy, it’s a lot of box ticking, it’s not without a load of problems, but they are more manageable. I took less annual leave, less sick leave and a pay cut 14 years to get in but worked my way back up to top of band 6. And you keep the pension!
I’m retiring in 18 months at 55 after 37 years nursing and honestly cannot wait. I feel sick at the thought of doing any longer and feel so sorry for the younger nurses starting out today.
Lots of PN’s coming up retirement nationally too, we’re an aged workforce. Lots of opportunities.

I would look into it seriously because unless they had second degrees I didn’t know about this was very definitely not the case with several of the ones I’ve known. I also know that recruitment is difficult (which will tell you it isn’t for everyone- do full research).

the reality is it’s a lot of chatting to students who for one reason or another are struggling with school, administering routine meds and being the gatekeeper to going home early- you need to be organised and good at working without much direction but I would wager that there is more first aid than genuine nursing being done.

Research nurse ? Outpatients ? Primary care? There's loads of nursing opportunities out there. Disability assessor ? Do some research. Nursing is not all about wards.

Public health nursing- School nurse or health visiting. Start as a band 5 on the team then do the SCPHN MSc to become a specialist. Mon -fri no evenings, nights , weekends or bank holidays.
As you are coming from an adult background look for a school nurse post as a stepping stone job. Looks at 6th forms they often want RGN with first aid skills. You might enjoy the school environment.
Or occupation health nurse in a company?
Immunisation team- Lots of fainting school kids ?

And of course school nursing, health visiting and of course with your adult nursing degree

My GP practice has two nurses, I've been seen by them a couple of times for routine stuff. Definitely no night shifts, or weekends, a Saturday morning at most I presume.

Not easier, but different to bedside. For some the shift patterns, type of work and the structure of shifts are preferable; for others its their worst nightmare and they prefer ward nursing. I think its brought up when people are pondering leaving nursing altogether as its an option to look into before a complete change of career.

OP you dont need to be a child trained nurse to work as a school nurse or in imms etc- its worth keeping an eye out. You could check the civil service website also for more unique practice nurse positions, one of my friends works as a civilian in a military med centre as a nurse and absolutely loves it. Its also meant shes experienced a civil service role so could no doubt more easily move into a corporate/career change role.

Thank you, I will definitely keep a look out now I know that then because I thought it was strictly children's nurses only

I’m a specialist nurse working 30 hours over 4 days. No nights, no weekends, no bank holidays etc
I can’t say the job isn’t stressful because at times it is. We are a nurse led clinic (all 6’s) but have a consultant to email if needed. I love my weekends back to myself.

What about occupational health with a corporate company?

My friends friend does b12 etc jabs in a private aesthetics practice. And phlebotomy. Community nursing is a great idea. They also do b12 jabs at pharmacies so they must need nurses there too.

I would not advise this. U would be working as long hours and many of your clientele will not be very appreciative.

My friend moved from nursing into a very well paid job in pharmaceutical sales.

I am a lot older than you op but managed to get out of Nursing around eight years ago after doing it for 30years almost all of that on wards and a hospice. It wrecked my mental and physical health and there has not been one day that i have regretted leaving the profession.
At your age I would do as many others have suggested and look at a different area of Nursing or maybe a clinical nurse specialist role with more 9-5 hours.
I left to go into a completely different are of benefits advice work but it did come with a hefty wage drop. I currently earn around 28k so nowhere really back up to Band 5 level. I do a lot of disability benefit forms for people. referrals to adult social care, helping people access disability grants, supporting carers etc. It can be very repetitive at times and i am really ready for a change.
Someone upthread suggested becoming a PIP assessor. I would just add that every person I have spoken to who did that role became burnt out very quickly and hated it but I guess some must have positive experiences.

Train as a midwife! You get band 5 salary to train. Then get a specialist role…I work 8.30-4.30 caseloading women with complex social issues, I love it. But even a change of hospital/team might help L, it makes all the difference.

Have you thought about:
safeguarding
infection, prevention and control
working in quality or patient safety
have you thought about health visiting or working in the community
health and safety
occupational health
working in a GP practice/ practice manager
Working in health insurance
CHC assessment
teaching at university or college

District nursing is so much better imo

Is it really nursing you hate do you think? Or the bullying? You’re still very young so entirely possible to make a big career change if you want to, but do remember that there are a lot of different types of nursing roles and anyone is going to be miserable in any job where they’re being bullied. I’m a GP and a lot of nurses working in primary care with us say they’re so much happier and it’s so much better than hospital nursing. And yes allows you to avoid long shifts and antisocial hours like night shifts/weekends plus you get to actually have your bank holidays off over Christmas etc. My impression is that we are generally short of primary care nurses and that it’s not too hard to find a job. I know a lot of practices are also delighted to recruit a relatively young nurse as you are likely to stick around much longer! People say similar about community nursing but yes think you’d need to drive but that could be achieved relatively quickly.