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.

I've had several jobs in the NHS over the years, and by far my most miserable was when I was a band 2 in supplies in the early 1990s, it almost put me off for life. We were so underpaid and overworked and our boss was an eejit (our supervisor was lovely, but our boss was an absolute twat).

Not all departments are like that, but if you're this unhappy early on in the, er, "honeymoon" period, it's unlikely things will improve, so I don't think anyone would blame you for packing it in. There are good departments in the NHS, and there are good hospitals though, but it can take a bit of finding.

If you do apply for jobs in the NHS again, have a look at the annual staff survey site, it'll give you a fair idea of whether it's a happy hospital or not. (Two of the hospitals I enjoyed working at scored pretty highly, the one I didn't was almost at the very bottom of the entire national scale. For pretty much everything.)

@doubledutyHP

I'm a new ward clerk only 4th week at work. Training was absolutely poorly I'm learning on my own. First week was horrid I was coming back home stressed and feeling sick. I was feeling like on the spinning wheel.Try to stay a little bit longer maybe will be better also ask for help. My responsibilites are wide and lots to come ... I definitely think that ward clerks should be better paid.

Did you end up sticking with the job in the end? Or did it get too much?

@sentientandcognisant is right in that as NHS admin we are the same people you all stood and clapped for we are all exhausted, daily dealing with understandably frustrated patients that just can't comprehend the huge wait list and the challenges asking demoralised staff to work overtime to try and make a dent on the demands.
We are not paid enough to deal with all the responsibilities.
For every vacant role during the pandemic we had unprecedented applications now we can't fill these putting more demands on staff.
I would say it probably is not going to get better so if its not for you leave now.

@CoffeeRunner

Are you a Ward Clerk? If so you answer to the Ward Manager who will be a Band 7. Band 4’s are not management.

In any case, no, if you wanted an easy job in the NHS you won’t get one. There aren’t any. Not unless you’re super highly trained anyway. A receptionist at a private company would earn the same & have far less responsibility on their shoulders. It’s ludicrous really.

Band 4's are definitely management in our trust.

This is common unfortunately- just leave, it sounds awful and actually there are lots of entry level jobs about at the moment so you could try something else

@SentientAndCognisant

Not being funny,but what did you think the current NHS work climate is? Remember when you stood and clapped? These are the same people few month on. More tired Grumpy?stressed more like and ,exasperated at the new admin who’s got a face like a smacked arse

If you’re unhappy Just leave.

Not helpful!

Zombie thread - two years old!

Welcome to the nhs 🙁

Zombie

🤦‍♀️

Sorry that’s my fault resurrecting it! I didn’t see the date. Apologies 🤦🏽‍♀️

Nhs management is notoriously bad. There is no real training for managers in my experience. Just put some random worker on a management role overnight and off they go wreaking havoc everywhere.

@Feminist10101

A band 2 job should not be particularly complicated. It’s the lowest pay band now.

🤣🤣🤣

It’s absolutely normal working in the NHS

This is the way the NHS works, put as much as possible on the lowest paid, make sure they are the ones who take all the abuse from unhappy patients and when complaints come pouring in create new management roles and directorates.

The NHS is run with far too many chiefs and not enough Indians ( disclaimer my grandmother was a full blood, registered,American Indian so I am allowed to use one of her favourite expressions)

@Feminist10101

Most admin jobs are down on band 2 and managers get band 4. It's awful.

But the way job matching works knowledge and responsibility/effort are scored. To fall into band 2 it can’t score highly in any factor. Band 4 will get points for supervision. It’s how the system works.

True However it can include every non complex element. Our band 2s never work above their grade but the do every element all day every day switching between them as required minute to minute. It is high pressure and tough. They deserve far more than band 2 but when you write down the elements they all fit the category. It's a huge flaw in the system.

Going up through bands is more about autonomy and freedom to act. At band 2 your work is monitored but that doesn't mean it is easy.

I used to work for the NHS in a management role and I lasted less than a year. Everyone was obsessed with bands, there was a constant ‘that’s not my job’ attitude and all staff members (clinical and otherwise) leapt on every chance to slag each other off (I assume because they were overstretched and unhappy). Training was terrible and the work atmosphere was toxic. Am sure not everywhere in the NHS is like that but my experience was awful.

why has this been opened
Zombie

@LizDoingTheCanCan

Zombie thread - two years old!

Still largely relevant though, many NHS staff are badly paid and overworked. Cripes I dread to think what morale is like now!

I was left to figure out what I should do with no training no induction from day 1. My manager expected me to just link in with the existing staff. Unfortunately they are all on the same /lower band than me so they have no obligation in showing me how to do my work. The worst thing is I was parachuted in to take on the workload as my predecessor was considered a “brainiac” so my manager was hoping for the same result when he hired me (not as smart as my predecessor obviously! ). I was furious at first but now has treated this as a learning curve and chalk everything up as talking points for my future interview.