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?

I don't blame you. Inpatient mental health nurse here. The whole of the NHS is just in meltdown. I've only been qualified 9 years (so nowhere near as long as you) and I'm not sure I can do this my whole working life.

Comments from people like isadoradancing (however well meant) just shows how much people don't 'get it'. Honestly myself and my colleagues usually work through our breaks / leave late etc. If we didn't then most of the absolute basic tasks for the day wouldn't get done (I mean like toileting, giving out medications etc) because there simply aren't enough of us to meet the workload so we're all working above and beyond just to try and keep our heads above water (and still failing).

2 jobs you could go to and still use your knowledge and qualifications- HR, bigger companies employ nurses to help those on long term sick leave back to work, or help them to accept they never will, doing PIP assessments, it was a nurse who had had to leave the NHS due to back problems who did mine.

Go part time, drop a grade, get back to patient are, you won’t regret it.
I am jobshare and even when it’s CRAZY I get huge job satisfaction.

Thank you Checked, from one exhausted HCP to another, time to put your feet up my friend

Thank you from me too 👏👏

Nurses like to be martyrs ... you don't HAVE to do 50 hr weeks

So... when your shift has finished and you're about to walk off the ward to the changing rooms and a patient's relative tells you that their elderly gran is lying in a pool of her own urine and faeces and you know that if you don't go and assist there won't be anyone free to do it for several hours because the ward is so short staffed. Should you just say adios.

Or when you're in break room getting perhaps your only 30 min break in a 12 hour shift and the cardiac arrest alarm goes off and you know that there is only one other trained nurse out on the ward floor, should you just continue eating your sandwich?

Not all wards are the same, however those on acute wards regularly have no option but to work extra hours either by losing their breaks or by staying later on their shift for multiple reasons that all involve trying to help patients.

After 20 years nhs service I quit 4 years ago. I've never looked back. Big decision but best one I've ever made. Good luck OP x

Come to the private sector. I did my time in the NHS and haven’t looked back.

Hi OP...I left the NHS in 2001, literally a broken woman, after 15 years in an acute front line role, but continued working as a nurse, and now with 30 years in same career, still love my job, (and after all this time I still feel guilty for leaving.) But actually, I think leaving when I did was the only option for me, my family, my mental health. Do whatever feels right for you, you can turn yourself inside out, and bad things can still happen in spite of your best efforts, you are just one person trying to hold back the tide. What a shame to have all your skills and knowledge lost to the NHS, but you could work elsewhere where you can still do the job you love and make as much of a difference to people who are vulnerable, in need of care just as much as the patients in the NHS. As Nurses we are rubbish at looking after ourselves, so whatever you decide to do, be kind to yourself, think what you would advise a good friend to do in your position, and be proud of the million and one things you will have done throughout your career that have made a massive difference to countless patients lives. Xx

Amazing achievement!! What will you do for your second career? Such a big decision knowing you've got another 20 odd years of employment.

Ok exactly in this predicament (not leaving nursing but changing career) I don't know what to do next!

When I was on the wards for approx 5 years I can count on one hand the amount of times I got my break! When you're the only qualified nurse on the ward because of short staffing you can't afford to leave the health care assistants to it!

My friend who is still on the wards had to cancel her annual leave last week due to short staffing, the trust clamping down on agency staff, and loads of staff sickness. There would have literally been shifts where there was no qualified nurse on the ward had she not cancelled her leave!

Thank you for all your kind words and also suggestions for next steps.

I do need to match my salary which is an 8C and so it’s going to be challenge to find something of a similar pay scale.

I’m really saddened to hear on here of the nurses that have only been qualified less than 10 years who are already feeling the brunt of it. My goodness, the first 10 years of my career were such good fun, and I was certainly able to nurse to the standard I wanted to.

💐 and thanks to you.

It isn't any consolation but I feel the same about the education system.
There won't be anything or anyone left under this government.

Time to look after you!

isadoradancing

Hahahahahahahahaha cool
joke 😂😂😂

You’ve definitely done your time OP. You’ve given the best you could. Don’t hang around to see it all crash, it’ll be too soul destroying

Governance is massive in the private sector, the CQC are always after senior staff who can identify shortcomings across the nhs and private sector, there are plenty of roles where you could match your salary or even exceed it. Think laterally and get shopping for an amazing related career! Xx

I've worked in general practice for 13 years now and know what you mean about services changing.
Even in my 13 years the whole thing is different and scary thinking about the future of general practice and the NHS.
Have a look on NHS jobs and brows the jobs sections and see if anything takes your fancy. Can't hurt to look xx

Only 7 years in the NHS and I am so done. The pay is crap, the bosses only want to cover their arses and it's so target driven now it's unreal.

And that's just in my non-clinical role. My clinical one is even worse.

I'm out.

Nurses with practical experience are in demand in the private sector, I also know many Nurses who have gone into working for medical devices/pharmaceutical companies in a clinical role and they earn very good money.

Someone I know who was an 8A went to work for the local CCG. Might be worth considering? With your experience and knowledge, people like that and as pp mentioned CQC would be interested.

I think I’ll be done soon. 10 years and I’m still a band 5. Recently had health problems and ended up going private in order to get back to work in a timely manner. Oh the irony! Not had the best treatment from my employer, I don’t feel valued. No idea what I’d do instead though.

Long hours, really shite pay and constant pressure and what feels like a never ending battle to maintain basic patient care standards. Wouldn't blame anyone for throwing in the towel.

I knew this would be a NHS thread. I'm a manager in front line care. Got home half an hour ago knackered and tomorrow I'll do it all again. It will break my heart to leave but this is killing me. I can't get anything done, just constantly trying to keep things moving forward with no time or resource to achieve that.

30 yrs since I qualified asnurse and seriously thinking of packing it in too
I don't work front line anymore but in a target driven area....but the targets are so unachievable now and morale is at an all time low in my department .
I live in a rural area , so alternative careers are few and far between and I have 6 yrs till I can claim NHS pension
I've recently been diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune illness so my health isn't great anyway and stress will only make it worse

I have just got out of hospital after a week long stay and I can't believe the dedication of all the nurses. Everyone was so committed to their work and clearly understaffed and stressed yet it never effected the quality of care. I have nothing but admiration for anyone that does that job.

Do whatever is best for yourself and your family. 23 years is a massive contribution to our NHS.

Thank You

I have only 5 years before I can retire and I plan to. I am still a band 5 but work in ICU. I have never wanted to climb the greasy pole of management but I enjoy working with the patients and family. However I see a lack of care for the staff! We are expected to be flexible towards the services needs but not the staffs need.

I have only 5 years before I can retire and I plan to. I am still a band 5 but work in ICU. I have never wanted to climb the greasy pole of management but I enjoy working with the patients and family. However I see a lack of care for the staff! We are expected to be flexible towards the services needs but not the staffs need.