Aibu to quit my NHS job after 3 days

[Mrschips07]

Started a new job in an NHS hospital. Role sounded similar to what I've done before (admin) although its more hours than I wanted (I have a 2yo, so would prefer less $ spent on nursery) money is fine - only band 2 though.

I absolutely hate it - Everyone is overworked, no one is happy in their work, nothing works properly, managers don't listen and I feel I've just been feeling my way in the dark for 3 days with no proper training (A grumpy woman showed me roughly what to do but sighs every time I ask a question or for any kind of help) its actually a very complicated role for very little money and so far, my stress level is through the roof.

Every day I have wanted to just walk out on my lunch break and I have cried every night after work. I'm not sleeping because I'm stressed and anxious about what I've gotten myself into.

aibu to want to quit? I want a job but NOT this.

If you can, just leave!

My biggest work regret was staying in a terrible job with a terribly manager for a year and a half. I knew in the first week that it was awful and I should have listened to my intuition and left right away!

Quit

Leave OP, I doubt it will get better. I left a job after a few days, I was just not gonna go back but somehow I managed the guts to take the manager into an office and tell her the job wasn’t for me. It was awful, I spent my nights lying in bed crying dreading going back the next day, looking back It was the best decision I made!

I was in a very similar situation, but stupidly held on for 6 months hoping it would get better. It didn’t. I’m now very happy in a non-NHS admin role where the IT is joined up and I have time to think.

Meant to add, I did eventually find a nice part time job with a lovely office, not NHS. U will find something around your child keep looking!!

I think it's better to leave after 3 days (when you can forget the whole thing) than after 3 months (when you have to justify it) - so I'd just quit

I used to do band 2 reception work in an NHS outpatients clinic and it was soul destroying. It was monotonous but never bloody ending. And people would be so rude about their appointment times etc which was basically out of our hands. I lasted 9 months and only because I was on redeployment from another department

I wouldn't leave after 3 days, you may find it gets better - give it a go first. New jobs are always tough because you don't know what you're doing and have no real support network. Can you speak with HR and ask that they help you get some proper training?

I moved into a senior NHS role from the private sector. Handed in my notice after less than a month because it's ridiculous. Huge amount of responsibility, shit poured on from all directions and zero training. And I took a 30% pay cut to do it! No thanks.

What are you struggling with op?

Can you write down a list and try one by one get through them so you feel less overwhelmed?

I spent 12 years in a similar-sounding NHS band 2 role. It was complicated and often very stressful, there was lots of grumbling about what was expected for a band 2 role. You are not being at all unreasonable.

@missyB1 that’s very odd. And probably quite soul destroying! In our trust everyone will ultimately be answerable to a Band 7 or above.

Band 4 is Flow Co-Ordinator level or Registered Nurse Associate. No authority over others at all.

Leave OP if you can and do not put in your CV..when you know..you know!

Nhs admin is tough. I've been doing it for 17 years now. You either love it or absolutely hate it.

I'm a band 4 admin manager in charge of 7 and the responsibility is huge for the pay I get. My friends outside the NHS can't believe what I do for the little money I earn.

Hope you manage to figure out what you want to do. 👍🏻

Looks like nothing has changed in25years.
I once did a 6months temp job in admin within the NHS...they wanted me to stay on longer but I refused...I should have walked out the first week when I realised just what a bag of crap it was...
It was the worst job I have ever had...no training, and sharing an office with a grumpy, two faced medical secretary half my age who was so up herself ....there was no such thing as team work in that department.

Quit!
I started a new job last week, I'm working from home, training over Skype, trainer doesn't spend enough time with me, doesn't answer questions or email, I'm supposed to be working 7 hours a day but am doing 10.
Long standing employees are bombarding me with work that I have no clue how to do, I dont even know where any documents are stored electronically so I can't even have a mooch and try and educate myself.
The job is not what was advertised, supposed to be admin but it's turned out to be a more technical role which I'm actually qualified to do but they expect me to do this role using my expertise whilst paying me an admin wage.
I took a massive paycut so I wouldn't have the stress of my role and I could ease myself towards retirement with less stress.
Iv been crying my eyes out tonight as iv made a massive mistake taking this job.
Tomorrow I'm going to quit, so my advice to you is quit if you can afford to, good luck

The whole if the NHS is disfunctional

Having spent a year with a DH with cancer prior to lockdown and then seen the total collapse of the most basic services since the whole system id a national disgrace

How many will die due to stopped cancer treatment.

OP if you can, go and go now. It would take forever for me to write down the reasons why I advise this but suffice to say most of what I feel has already been covered well by PP's. Your mental health and wellbeing is paramount so prioritise that. Given my experience, both personally and witnessed over many years it will not get any better and it's so much harder to leave the longer you stay.

I lasted four months in my NHS job before I gave up . I should have done it sooner to be honest so I would say YANBU.

Every day I have wanted to just walk out on my lunch break and I have cried every night after work. I'm not sleeping because I'm stressed and anxious about what I've gotten myself into. aibu to want to quit? I want a job but NOT this.

YANBU. It sounds like it is/could take a real toll on your mental health. I felt like that when I tried to go into teaching. It just wasn't for me. I ended up having constant panic attacks, mixing tranquilizers with wine every night etc. Not a good scene.

If you have options / savings, go.

I’ve had gut feelings, and they’ve turned out to be the most miserable souls destroying jobs. The last one I realised on day 2 there was a power struggle between the three founders of a start up when I was asked to hide keys to filing cabinets and the safe. On day 3 I was asked to mediate in a ‘clearing the air’ meeting. On day 4 there was a physical altercation. On day five I called and resigned at 8.55am, and took myself out for a nice breakfast with my DM. They’ve had multiple EAs before and after me, so my gut instinct was right. Not everyone has a choice for economic or personal reasons, but if you do, choose happiness and self respect

If you can afford to leave do so. Sometimes you just know from the beginning that it’s not for you and things aren’t going to improve. I’ve been in a job I hated. I knew right from the start I was going to but because of circumstances I had to take it. It was two years of misery until I was able to move. I remember beginning to feel really depressed on Saturday teatime because I had to go there again on Monday morning.

I lasted two years in the NHS over two different jobs over 30 years ago. It was bad enough then, but it sounds like it is much worse now. I went in as a fresh faced graduate, but the shine soon got knocked off me.

I don't understand the current band system, that's changed since my day. We had, for example, clerical officer, higher clerical officer then grades 1, 4, 9, 14, 18... the numbers in between weren't used, I don't know why. There was a lot of status attached to what scale you were on.

OP, if I were you I'd get out now. It sounds awful and if it's making you that miserable it's not worth it.

Another person saying just go. Chalk it up to experience. I was in a job for a couple of days once and I just knew it wasn't for me. It was the opposite to yours - I was trained in how to open the post, and how to "lay out a tray for meetings". I knew I hadn't been to uni and done all my training for that job!!!! Know your worth, there will be another job, honestly its just not worth the stress, and nobody will care, take it from me :)

Absolutely YANBU. Jack it in, don't put in on your CV. If you have to just blame COVID for any gaps. It sounds hellish and no job is worth this, particularly after 3 days. Make sure you tell them why you're off though, it may help your poor successor.