To think there must be a way I can make £600 a month from home??

[YeOldeBlackFog]

I am a qualified nurse and I hate it. Staff get treated like shit from both “colleagues” and patients. Yesterday I had a “straw that broke the camels back” moment.

I got to work at 8am. Switched on my computer to see that someone had “popped” a 45 minute appointment into a 10 minute slot at the end of my shift. I was on shift until 12pm, this appointment was “popped” into the 11:50am slot.

I called the manager and said I couldn’t do it it as I had a GP appointment at 12:45pm. It was the only appointment I could get. I was told “well there is nothing I can do about it, you’ll just have to do your best”. I missed my appointment. Now I can’t get another one for at least 3 weeks. I feel like an absolute clown. There I am ensuring that patients get their appointments and when it comes to my health I’m told “tough shit”.

I have anxiety, ADD and Autism. I’m really not coping anymore. Last week a patient went ape shit at me as HE’D misplaced something and apparently I should have foreseen this and stopped it happening. My heart is just not in this. I’m tired, I’m annoyed, I’m getting bitter.

I don’t feel like my mental state is compatible with working with the public. I only need to make £600-£700 a month. Surely there is something I can do from home that would make this much??

So sorry you’re having such a rough time OP. No ideas so hopefully someone will be along to help soon but I didn’t want to leave you hanging. “Popping” in that appointment was an especially shit thing to do.

Does it have to be from home? You could make £600 PM working in Tesco.

Aren't there nurses who work outisde of hospitals and surgeries? A school nurse or in a care home? The company I work for has a doctor and nurse on site part time for staff. Maybe you could look in to being a nurse in one of those areas where you aren't having so much contact with the general public.

That's shit for you op and I'm sorry

Supermarkets are hiring at the moment and you can leave the job at the door.

No advice OP but I appreciate all what nurses do... for you xx

Aldi pay £9.10 an hour, you'd make £610 per month with 16 hours per week.

That sounds horrible and very unfair that you had to cancel your appointment. It sounds like a change would be good for you. Do you have to work from home?

Come over to the £10 a day thread. It's so supportive and it's been amazing throughout lockdown.

I'm a nurse and have felt as you do many times in my career. I'm now working in a different role, still as a qualified nurse buts it a lovely supportive team. Could you change job but carry on using your nurse skills. It sounds like you have a management and team problem.

I know a lot of nurses and a paramedic who have gone into asethetics, so lip fillers and Botox etc I imagine you would have to do some training first.

No real advice but over my career I’ve been supported by many nurses, all of whom have been fantastic and helped me in too many ways to list. There are loads of your colleagues who massively appreciate you; we should be more vocal about it but we constantly sing the praises of the staff on the wards where we work.

You shouldn’t be sacrificing your own health for your patients. Your line management sounds dire, you definitely need a more supportive team.

I was told “well there is nothing I can do about it, you’ll just have to do your best”.
You need to be more confident, don't be a pushover.
"I will be finishing on time at midday".
And then don't let Management be in any doubt that you intend to stick to this.

I don't blame you at all for wanting to leave your current profession.

I have worked in a supermarket though and didn't enjoy it. Being sworn at by customers, spoken to like an idiot by managers, and working over my scheduled hours was a common occurrence

I'm now working as a self employed cleaner. It's actually one of the most enjoyable jobs I've had! Very little stress and although tiring, it's not bad money and quite rewarding.

You have my sympathy. It’s a tough role. I also have ADD so I can appreciate the added stress of that. I’m sure there is lots you can do and others with a better idea than me are already suggesting things.

Can I just put a warning here: this kind of post will attract people trying to recruit into Multilevel Marketing schemes (such as Avon, Body Shop at Home, Forever Living, Arbonne etc), with claims of flexible WFH opportunities with unlimited earnings “if you work hard enough”. Ignore them! You’re far better off at Aldi being paid by the hour.
www.mlmtruth.org

I know someone who had to give up nursing due to physical issues and ended up working for 111. It's not from home but you're only working on the phone.

There might be some way you can use your skills in a remote job. I know there are services where you can video chat with a GP so wonder if there are virtual nursing jobs too.

I don't know how you get into it but what about a call operator for 101 line or another type of call handler role?

I was told “well there is nothing I can do about it, you’ll just have to do your best”.

Unless it is in your contract this is your managers job to sort out.

Not from home but could you be a teaching assistant maybe with children with SEND? I think that would bring you that kind of money and it can be very rewarding. And holidays off.

@AdaShelby which part of MN is that thread on please?

You need to be more assertive. Set your boundaries and stick to them. No one should be able to ‘pop’ a 45 minute appointment into a 10 minute slot. “No I am finishing at 12 and taking my lunch break”. Nurses don’t get paid for breaks so you should take them. Join a union. Keep a diary of what you are being asked to do. Every time you work over your time, report it (do you have a satin system or similar?) this highlights the problem to management and you will soon find they won’t be asking you to do extra as it will makes their figures look bad. Ask for an occupational health assessment, you have ADD so there might be adjustments that can be made to your work because of this. Above all else, practice saying “No”.

That should have said Datix not Satin!

Not from home, but boarding school sickbay nurse? If you can find a school with a lovely culture to suit you, then your patients are the students and you have a bit more authority on their behaviour than Joe public.

First try transferring to an area with minimal or no patient contact. Thats what I did and is made an enormous difference. Something like a call handler for 111, theatre or education.

I am just not cut out for working with the public!

Sorry to hear you have been treated so badly at work, they should be kissing your feet imo. What about childminding/nanny? I am sure a lot of parents would be very reassured having a nurse minding their dc. Not sure what training you need though. I know you said no dealing with the public but a friend of mine did a course in phlebotamy and they work for the blood bank. Regular hours, no sick people and patients have volunteered to be there. Or as pp said perhaps you might find employment as a school nurse or similar.

It depends on where you are, but where I live childminders who do the before and after school slots (i.e. taking and collecting the children from school) is massively overscribed and, when you get a place, quite pricey! Obviously there's insurance, ofsted inspections etc but might be worth investigating?

In the meantime though, can you be a bit more assertive? My response to the meeting at 11:50 would have been "I'm sorry, I can't make it." If pushed, you could have explained that you had an appointment that you couldn't miss. End of story. Sometimes you've got to stand up for yourself even if it's stressful in the short term