To quit my job as a newly qualified nurse for the opportunity of a lifetime abroad?

[WineInTheSun]

I’m a newly qualified nurse (qualified in March) in a busy emergency area in the NHS. I find it very busy and intense but ok- there are days I enjoy it and others I struggle. On a whim I applied for a 3 month contract as a private nurse abroad, I didn’t expect to get it.

But now I have been offered the job! I always dreamed of working abroad, with a particular interest in the country the opportunity has been offered. It is just for 3 months but is the opportunity of a lifetime. I spoke to my manager as I wanted unpaid leave to take this opportunity but she advised me I needed to be in my role for 24 months to qualify for unpaid leave. My heart says to quit my job, take this opportunity and go. I’m early 20s and childfree for background. I don’t have any savings but I could live at home with my mum on returning to the U.K. if things were really bad.

The job is an immediate start- this week or next, so I wouldn’t be working any notice period. However, my contract says leaving in the first 6 months (which I would be doing) doesn’t require a notice period but obviously this wouldn’t put me in a favourable position with my manager. How would it work for references and applying for jobs in the NHS in the future when I return?

My biggest concern is returning to the UK and not getting a job again as a nurse in the NHS due to quitting within my probation period. To add further confusion, I have been offered one of the last opportunities to do the midwifery 18 month paid salary top up course in September- expected to be one of the last cohorts to train nurses as midwives in 18 months. Taking the opportunity abroad would mean saying goodbye to that.

Should I follow my head or my heart? I can’t stop thinking about it but I also know it’s not necessarily sensible. So AIBU?

In my experience you don't regret the things you do, you regret the things you don't do.

If it's really exciting to you, go! The NHS will still be here when you get back.

As a nurse, I was going to say ‘go for it’ until I saw that you have your eye on the top up course. In all honesty, I’d go for that, personally.

I would not give up my probation period or 18 month training for a 3 month contract. You won't get back in.

There is a massive nurse shortage you will get another job. Plus this job experience will help. Go. You will regret it if you don’t.

Oh that's tough.

I'm a student nurse but I'm in my 30's with kids and I've done the travelling and working abroad thing.

I think if I were you, I would do it.

But then - I wouldn't even consider the MW thing for even a minute. So that skews my answer.

Do it! The NHS is crying out for nurses so you won’t have much trouble finding work when you return.

I'd never leave a permanent job for a three-month contract.

If it wasn’t for the midwifery course I would have said go, but now I would say do the course and then consider. You will still be young. There will be other jobs abroad. In fact you’ll probably have more opportunities being dual qualified.

Go! I'm a qualified nurse, there's a national shortage of nurses and always ED positions available.
Good luck!!

Do it! You only live once

Sounds like a great opportunity but 3 months is such a short time and you are potentially giving up quite a lot if you lose out on the midwifery course.

How much do you want to do that?

What are your plans for after the 3 months is up? What about your CPD requirements and preceptorship. I know preceptorship is not compulsory but being a NQN is such a steep learning curve and you need to be supported. Will you get that in the private job?

Do the midwifery course. The 18 month conversion courses will be gone soon.

Which country is the contract in? Is it through a legitimate agency?

Definitely go. Travelling was the best thing ever.

Get your midwifery qualification first. There will be a LOT of private nursing opportunities when you’re qualified

You will get back in.

From a work pov, this will be seen as a worthwhile reason to have a break in your training. The more World etc experience a Nurse has, the better.

From a personal pov, i don't know anyone who hasn't regretted taking the opportunity to travel. I'm in my 50's and it's a common regret in my age group and older.

Life changes you, as it should do. So take the time to do things when you are younger, you won't have the opportunity of the same experience again.

I’d stay in your job and get the midwife training. There will be opportunities to work as a nurse abroad later on and you’ll be more desirable once you’ve got more NHS experience under your belt.

To me, it seems crazy to give up a stable job and paid opportunity to train for 12 weeks abroad. You can do it as unpaid leave in a few years, those opportunities will come up a lot more than paid training.

I would say go for it. Like others have said there's no shortage of vacancies.

However, I would personally be very sceptical of a job that's willing to take on a nurse that hasn't even been qualified 6 months. Call me a cynic but most overseas jobs I've looked into want at least a year if not 2 under your belt before applying. Add to that it's only 3 months, you'd barely be settled in before you're leaving again.

Is your heart set on Midwifery?

Or are you doing the course because it's on offer?

Do it. Do it. Do it!
In years to come you will regret it if you don't!!!!

You will ALWAYS be able to return to this country's nhs nursing.

There will be other opportunities abroad. Do your probation properly and do the conversion course, if your heart’s in it.

I'd be a bit concerned about what job youd be doing to be honest, especially with only 4 months actual nursing experience.

I've done a fair bit of nursing abroad and everyone I've ever applied with wanted 3-5 years experience.

Are you actually fully qualified - have you completed your preceptorship or whatever term is used now?

You will probably manage to get a job back in the NHS in future but I would consider the colleagues and patients you will be letting down by leaving with no notice.

Can you not ask for at least a few weeks or months extension on the start of the job?

Speaking as a nurse, you should definitely decide if you do want to be a midwife in the future and would you sacrifice the abroad opportunity to do so. But if you decide that you really wanna go for the opportunity abroad you should definitely quit your job. You’ll have no problem at all getting a job again, there’s a national shortage and they’d be stupid not to hire you (providing you haven’t done anything dodgy or killed anyone etc!).

Last year I asked for three months unpaid leave in order to do a short term 3 month role with a community team as my future dream was to go into HV and I wanted community experience first. My ward manager said no because another girl was off travelling at the time and one off was enough apparently. So of course I handed in my notice the next day She immediately said she may be able to squeeze me in for unpaid leave but too late. I’ve since completed that 3 month role and went on to do my HV training, due to qualify as a HV very soon. Go for your dreams!

However, my contract says leaving in the first 6 months (which I would be doing) doesn’t require a notice period

Have you checked this? It's some time since I've done NHS HR but I've never seen a contract requiring no notice, even more so after A4C.