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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave nursing to become a learning support assistant?

35 replies

ArianaG · 19/06/2021 07:27

I am a community mental health nurse and work part time. I find the job very stressful and have wanted to leave for quite some time but financially this is difficult.

I finally started applying for other jobs and have a job offer for a part time learning support assistant in a school supporting students who have additional needs.
I am now in a dilemma as I feel so worried about leaving a secure nursing job with good conditions and higher pay but it's stressful and I can't see it ever getting any better. I've worked on the wards too and hated it due to stress levels.

Should I stick with nursing or take the hew job? Have any nurses left the profession and regretted it or feel that they did the right thing?

OP posts:
monkeysox · 19/06/2021 07:40

TA pay is a pittance. Is the new job permanent? Teaching assistants are being made redundant left right and centre at the moment, even those with level three or hlta qualifications, so probably not very secure.
Could you try a different branch of nursing or part time nursing ?

Fyredraca · 19/06/2021 07:41

Could you look for a less stressful job in nursing? Maybe in the private sector?

Isadora2007 · 19/06/2021 07:43

Education is a similarly stressful environment tbh. Is it the responsibility or the clientele you don’t like? I’m sure there would be something more suitable in nursing like education or youth work you could look into keeping your pay grade up rather than TA level.

Original poster
ArianaG · 19/06/2021 07:44

The job is permanent and school expanding in numbers so don't think redundancy will be an issue. The pay is a drop though, we can manage ok on the pay but will have to be more careful with spending.
I already do nursing part time, I actually think that although it's great for work life balance it's made the job harder to do, I feel like I'm always catching up and consistency difficult.

OP posts:
GiantToadstool · 19/06/2021 07:45

Many TAs are ex-teachers who have left for similar reasons.

Id be worried if thats okay financially for you. Its so rubbish that TAs are paid badly and often means they need to be supported by a partner. It can be v rewarding. Some schools renew contracts yearly.

I imagine there would be other roles with more permanent status that you could find.

GiantToadstool · 19/06/2021 07:46

Have you checked the TA pay fully? Sometimes they advertise the ft role as if you were there 52 weeks a year and fulltime. The rate then is much less!

Rooberoobe · 19/06/2021 07:47

Could you do some agency shifts over the holidays and weekends when you need a little extra spending money?

Original poster
ArianaG · 19/06/2021 07:49

Yes I know the actual pay for the role

OP posts:
GiantToadstool · 19/06/2021 07:52

I dont think you're unreasonable at all, if its something you've thought through. A friend of mine has done similar in fact.

It just seems such a shame to lose everything you've worked for . Is there anything like school nurse or becoming a health visitor or anything like that that appeals? I guess the break from nursing would give you time to think through.

GiantToadstool · 19/06/2021 07:54

And as a woman you end up longer term without an easy way to support yourself if you needed to.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 19/06/2021 07:55

I would not jump ship to be a TA right now. School support staff and particularly TAs are the first to go when budgeting cuts require redundencies and I'd imagine an awful lot of school will be going through that over the next few years.

moonbedazzled · 19/06/2021 07:56

I think that the reality is that part timers often put more work in per week pro rata than full timers. I know teaching is the same. No disrespect to full time workers.

I think I'd try to look at less stressful working areas in medicine than mental health and stay with that. But if you do go for being a TA, I'm sure if it doesn't work out, you'll be able to get back into nursing easy enough. I can't see the demand for nurses really declining.

Canigoonroblox · 19/06/2021 08:02

I’m not a nurse but I work in the NHS and lots of my colleagues nursing and others have decided to retire or change career - especially since covid. I think it has made people think about what’s important to them and what they really want as well as what is manageable in their life. Don’t worry about changing career if it’s what you want. You could do some nurse bank shifts in different areas if money was difficult or if you need to save for something? That would allow you to earn if you need to, give you experience in different areas but without the responsibility and stress of working in one service permanently?

Audacity7 · 19/06/2021 08:06

I have this role and whilst the money is poor there are ways to get more by doing lunch duties or there are often form tutor roles. The benefits are the holidays and hours which allow me to be there for my children. It isn’t an easy role but you do mostly switch off when you get home. Your mental
Health skills will be invaluable. I’m sure you would get a job back in nursing if you decided to go back but maybe bear in mind keeping your registration up. Could you do some bank work to keep this going ?

Spunout · 19/06/2021 08:07

Bear in mind the age of the pupils too,I've worked in primary and sixth form and the older pupils definitely needed more mental health support than anything else,was very draining.

UseOfWeapons · 19/06/2021 08:09

I haven’t left the profession, can’t afford it.
But if you can, OP, and you think this is what you want, then go for it. My only suggestion is to do some bank MH shifts, and keep up with your nursing CPD, so that you can continue to fulfil the requirements for for NMC revalidation. That will give you an additional income stream if necessary, and keep you legal if you decide that being a TA isn’t for you after some time in the job, and want another MH job.

Wishing all the luck in the world. My dear friend worked in a very challenging role in acute MH, and was also part time. She burnt out, left the profession, and is now a complimentary therapist. She is much happier, less stressed, and look s forward to work. A huge loss to the nursing profession, but the stress levels were ridiculous, and totally unacceptable.

DeathByWalkies · 19/06/2021 08:16

I believe special schools often employ a school nurse who's permanently based at the school. Might that be an option?

ladyface69 · 19/06/2021 08:19

YANBU to feel stressed and overwhelmed by part time CMHT work, and if you have another role lined up why not try it for 6 months and see how you get on. Your nursing skills are transferrable though, have you looked at nurse assessor roles or is there anything you could get at your local GP surgery for their mental health provision? There is a new jobstream being set up for RMNs in GPs but I can't remember what it's called. Or, home care nursing? You could offer yourself out as 1-1 nursing and set your pay rate.

BlueistheNewme · 19/06/2021 08:24

I left mental health nursing for the same reason, and have worked as a support worker/direct payments with adults with a learning disability. It’s been 2 years now, and it was absolutely the right decision. I am on less pay, but I am happier and healthier. I love my work, it brings me joy every day.

Councilworker · 19/06/2021 08:33

A friend of mine was a community mental health nurse and left because she was just totally burnt out after about 20 years. She's now a childminder and absolutely loves it. Says it's the best decision she ever made

Howshouldibehave · 19/06/2021 08:36

There is a long thread running about TAs at the moment-worth having a read of that!

What will your monthly take home pay be as a TA? How will that compare to what you get now-that would be the decider for me.

Basilbutter · 19/06/2021 08:37

Go for it. Different roles but I had a similar complete change and have never regretted it and everyone said I was like a new person. If you can manage financially then that's enough. I have a friend who's a special school TA and it's very rewarding, tough at times of course but with your background it'll be a breeze. Also, nursing is easy to go back to if it ends up being a mistake. Good luck.

GreyGoose1980 · 19/06/2021 08:54

Hi OP

I’d go for it if you can manage financially as I think you can always return to nursing if it doesn’t work out due to current shortage of MH nurses. You may really enjoy it and regret it if you don’t take the chance. I don’t know much about TA roles. However I’d investigate whether there are any specialist TA qualifications you can do (possibly funded by work) to make use of your MH / nursing skills and experience ( ie supporting those students with additional needs etc).

HoneysuckIejasmine · 19/06/2021 08:59

@DeathByWalkies

I believe special schools often employ a school nurse who's permanently based at the school. Might that be an option?
This. Worth a thought?
NurseButtercup · 19/06/2021 09:08

Before you jump ship, have you looked into moving across into being a learning disability nurse? And also reducing your hours by taking a part time role?

I've noticed that the adverts for LD nurses also accept MN qualifications.

www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916574085