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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

80 replies

WineInTheSun · 03/07/2019 19:49

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?

OP posts:
Purpletigers · 03/07/2019 20:55

Do the midwife course first .

Basketofkittens · 03/07/2019 20:56

I would do it. The NHS is so short of nurses you will get back in. After a week or so your current colleagues will not even remember you.

managedmis · 03/07/2019 20:57

Door's that way 👉

nespressowoo · 03/07/2019 20:58

I'm a HV too - the course was flipping hell and I wouldn't do it again. I enjoy the job now though.i would've loved to do midwifery but nowhere around here does the 18 month course anymore. I wouldn't give up that opportunity for 3 months in the sun

managedmis · 03/07/2019 20:58

After that go to Australia or Canada

MissPhonic · 03/07/2019 20:59

It is very different to go from a hospital environment (even if short staffed, there is always someone you can call if in need of help with an unwell patient) to being on your own. It's fine with the day to day regularities of giving out medications but what if your charge becomes unwell?
Also, do you not have competencies you need to get signed off? IVs, catheterisation, bloods etc?
DOI: not a nurse but a junior Dr. Wouldnt give up training when newly qualified for anything. People give you much more leeway when you're newly qualified. Would consider the MW course though if that is about to disappear!

NurseButtercup · 03/07/2019 21:02

If you go now then your contract should finish in time for you to come back and start your course.

My advice is to go Wink

UnicornRun · 03/07/2019 21:04

Is it a royal family? I.e Saudi etc? Just be really careful what you're walking into if so. I wouldn't give up the midwife course and there will always be opportunities with the Royals (if it is those ones!) Because there are thousands of them so always jobs come up.

Butterfly02 · 03/07/2019 21:05

As a nurse I'd say the bigger opportunity is the top up midwifery course - I'd get that under your belt then apply abroad - your young you've got the time to do both but the course opportunity won't come around again and jobs abroad often come up and you'll have even more experience to give them ! Good luck.

Original poster
WineInTheSun · 03/07/2019 21:24

Thanks ladies, after reading all of your replies and all things considered I’m going to do the midwifery training, continue banking as a nurse in ED when I can throughout the midwifery training and hopefully at the end of the 18months I can apply for similar jobs. It was a very exciting opportunity but 3 months isn’t forever and I probably would feel very very very deflated once back in the U.K. in October, having missed my midwifery training (starts mid September) and looking for a nursing job. I’m sure my manager won’t be thrilled with this either as first it will be I asked for unpaid leave to work abroad and then giving a month’s notice to leave for the midwifery training. But it’s my future and I can’t stay for somebody else...

The opportunity was in the Middle East just to clarify. I have emailed the agent to say I cannot accept the job for the full 3 months but could do a week in my annual leave if that is considered at all but it’s very very unlikely.

On a (slightly) unrelated note, does anybody know what basic band 5 salary is without enhancements? I have always been paid with enhancements (in my first month I was band 3 for 3 weeks then got my pin and was band 5,
The following month I was then paid with nights/weekend enhancements as a 5) so don’t know how much to expect per month in September after tax etc?

Thank you for the input!

OP posts:
Karwomannghia · 03/07/2019 21:41

Now you’ve described the job a bit more I think you’ve made the right decision not to go. You’d be very tied to the family I imagine and not get to explore and have a lot of freedom which for me was the joy of travelling. Not sure what you think of the ME but You could do nursing in Australia or somewhere in the future and have a brilliant time.

PumpkinPie2016 · 03/07/2019 21:56

FWIW I think you have made the right decision to stay and do the midwifery course.

Being both nurse and midwife trained will mean that you will easily find work either in the UK or abroad.

Good luck with your course!

justjuggling · 04/07/2019 00:30

Why not do the midwifery course then if you still want to work abroad for a bit after you’ve completed it, go then?

chickhonhoneybabe · 04/07/2019 00:45

I’m doing midwifery it is very stressful and not for the faint hearted, but I guess if you work in a&e you’ll be used to the fast paced environment and stress that goes along with it.... personally i’d stick with nursing and go abroad unless you want to eventually go into health visiting.

Hotterthanahotthing · 04/07/2019 01:00

The midwifery top course is a once in a life time opportunity.If you still want to work abroad in future then your experience in nursing and midwifery will be much in demand and a longer time abroad will be looked on favourably if you come back.VSO would be wide open to you then as well.

TantricTwist · 04/07/2019 01:20

I wouldn't advise being a private nurse (let alone, alone in the Middle East) until you've a bit more experience so it's a relief that you've decided to do the 18 month Midwife course. Good luck with it all, you've made the right decision.

Way0ftheW0rld · 04/07/2019 02:09

Complete the midwifery course first

PregnantSea · 04/07/2019 02:35

Go. Life is short.

Iliterallycantthinkofanythingq · 04/07/2019 03:27

GO! Or wait until 24 months are up and then go. Either way - go!

Gingerkittykat · 04/07/2019 03:29

The job abroad is only for 3 months, it is not worth losing your chance of training over.

If you could find a job abroad so easily now then that can happen again in the future.

habibihabibi · 04/07/2019 04:06

You have made the right decision
I live in the Middle East and can testify that working as a domestic carer/nurse/nanny isn't the golden opportunity often portrayed.
You could work those whole three months on 24hr call and have no days off . The only travel could be from the airport and back when you left.....if they let you go.

I know nurses of a certain age who do maternity work flying in for a birth and staying till the baby is 10-12 weeks. They may only need to do a few contracts a year to make the same as an annual salary but they are at the end rather than the beginning if their careers.
Also they work 24/7 for those periods.

Jent13c · 04/07/2019 04:38

I qualify in Sept and going to middle east as my husband has been moved abroad. Pretty much all of UAE and surrounding countries require 2 years post reg experience to get licence to practice so I cant work there. I have heard of certain agencies/hospitals smudging your CV to get VISA and licence through but that's not really something I would want to be involved in as a newly qualified. Be careful!

habibihabibi · 04/07/2019 06:20

Jent13c you are right and all across the GCC visa requirements for all professions are becoming stricter an more regulated.
Private work often goes under the radar though, especially if it isq for influential families. However this works both ways ...you have even less rights, if any.

Topseyt · 04/07/2019 07:31

Women's rights barely exist in the Middle East. I think you have made the right decision not to go. I highly doubt that you would get much time to yourself so you would need to research it a lot more thoroughly first.

Completing your midwifery training is by far the better option.