To feel like waving a white flag and say I’m done

[checkedcloth]

23 years in the NHS, as a nurse. In a senior role for the last 5 years. Seen a compete erosion of services, especially over the last few.

I hate what happens to patients, I hate what happens to staff. And lately I hate what it’s doing to my family. 50 hour weeks, frequent cancelled leave and never switching off.

There’s no big pay packet at the end of it, no sense of real professional satisfaction. Just utter exhaustion and a feeling of holding onto a very thin thread.

Time to call it a day?

Yep

Thank you

Good answer

I’m so over it too. Worked in the nhs for 11 years now. I need a change of career

Yes . I am trying to escape, although my workplace is not strictly NHS. I'm fed up of seeing colleagues poorly treated.

You had me at "23 years in the NHS, as a nurse...".

You've done your time. Time to do something for yourself. And thank you

Choose yr hours at a local nursing home!

Thank you from me too, sincerely.

Crikey, yeah time to put your feet up and enjoy yourself knowing that you've served others and tried your best

Thank you checked. Now have a bloody good rest xx

You've done your time, nursing is one of those professions that once the love goes you've just got to walk away! I'm also a nurse although still wet behind the ears compared to you! Thank you for paving the way x

I salute you for your service checked

After a recent stay in hospital, I couldn't believe the hours and running around the NHS staff all do...massive respect

wouldn't blame you OP

what's nursing like in the private sector? Would that be your plan?

I have a couple of friends in the NHS, not on the nursing side, more in therapeutic type work and they are just dropping with exhaustion. I think it's deliberate actually - force staff from the NHS as well as patients.

Nurses like to be martyrs, you don't HAVE to do overtime, you don't HAVE to cancel leave, and you don't HAVE to do 50 hr weeks, why not sort all this and then the n h s will not lose a good experienced nurse

Oh bloody hell. You’ve all made me feel all funny! Thank you for your kind comments.

It won’t be true putting up feet time (I’m only 43). But I know that my family, in particular my children are not getting a great deal, they barely see me.

If I left nursing from the NHS (the only form I know of my profession) I can honestly say it would be like cutting off a limb, it’s an instrinsic part of me and who I am. I manage front line services and feel so passionate about what is right for patients. I still believe that deep down it’s a privileged role, so the idea of letting go breaks my heart

Isodora - I agree that there is a personal value that drives many nurses to go above and beyond, often to the detriment of their own wellbeing. Wouldn’t necessarily describe myself as a martyr though. More just rather married to the job

haha at isadoradancing

When NHS staff go on a work to rule & stop their 50 hour (unpaid overtime!) weeks & start taking their actual breaks the whole system will come crashing down!

Check, I’m 10 years in & knackered... you’ve done well

A good friend of mine has just called it a day after 30 years. Yep, I think she's done her share and deserves a rest. Any way you could could downsize your role and go part time if you can't face leaving entirely?

Yes. But thank you for everything you've done over all this time. You don't owe anyone anything.

I love the notion that nurses don't have to work long hours or have to work when they should be on leave. Meanwhile back in the real world if there weren't dedicated nurses willing to do this we would all be royally fucked.

If you decide to go, checkedcloth, then thank you for everything you have done. Nurses have helped save my life on more than one occasion. I just wish we could sort the NHS out and make it easier for people to do what they love without having to half kill themselves in order to keep it up.

I went to bank only, OP. Best thing I ever did. It's turned what could have been '5 years and then burn out' to '12 years and counting'. (not a nurse but similar and it was a year at band 7 that pushed me over the edge).

I wouldn't blame you if you jacked it in entirely but if you love it, do some bank - it's easy to rack up the hours to keep your PIN and you get to walk away at the end knowing you don't have to deal with all the politics and nonsense.

I'd be dead without the NHS, so thank you for the time you put in

The Tories are killing people, its not your fault. Leave with a clear conscience.

YANBU at all. I absolutely know I couldn't do it for a day let alone 23 years. Thank you and bloody well done!