AIBU to leave the NHS for the private sector?

[FlorenceNightshade]

I’m a nurse with years of acute experience but feeling totally fed up with the NHS and all the stress that comes with working for it.

I’ve an interview for a promoted post in the private sector (care home) this week. AIBU to go for it? Yes the NHS is a shit show just now but it’s also so precious and I’ve always been proud to work there.

Any fellow nurses made the change and have any insight?

My only regret is the loss of my NHS pension.

@GoodnightGrandma that’s something I’m really thinking about. Does the sector not compare at all? They’ve been a bit cagey about details so I intend to find out more if I go to the interview

I feel the same op.
I’ve joined a nursing agency so I can work in different places to see where I want to work,
Nursing homes are definitely not my thing I’ve found.

I’ve kind of adjusted my working hours in my NHS job, 3 long days so I still have my pension contributions but have the freedom to
Work one or two shifts a week with the agency.

Only when I find what I like will I take the plunge.
But plunge I will because enough is enough.

@imaginethemdragons that sounds smart. I’m wondering if I’m acting to hastily but my last few shifts I’ve dreaded going in and hated nearly every minute and I just refuse to do that to myself. If a colleague said that to me id tell them that there are loads of different jobs etc etc but I’m struggling taking my own advice

Not a nurse. But ex care home manager (residential dementia) also worked in nursing homes along side nurses over the years as care worker @FlorenceNightshade I would personally stick to either the hospital or work as a community DN, rather then a NH if I was you. Care/nursing homes can be massively short staffed your under paid and short staff no pension like the Nhs.

@Mumofgirl1 thank you for your insight. The wards in my area are short staffed too with little support from management. I guess I’m looking for a better work life balance too. I like the idea of regular hours instead of an erratic shift pattern. But the NHS feels so secure somehow like it’s stupid to leave even though I’m hating it

I understand what you mean, the shift patterns in care/nursing home usually work on a rota over 7 days some homes do long days 12 shifts others do split shift. You get better security with the NHS I think. I'm actually waiting to start at my local
Hospital as a phlebotomist, I left my managers position in April this year after having my little girl I worked right through the pandemic pregnant. It was a nightmare as I'm sure it was for you aswell I think the pandemic has made everyone question their job roles. After having my little one I didn't want to be working 60 hour weeks anymore. I'd Maybe suggest ring some of your local nursing homes and ask if they want any bank staff homes are usually crying out for bank staff as some of the smaller homes don't even use agency staff - this would give you an insight into how they run and you can make an informed decision, if you don't like it you still have your hospital position

@Mumofgirl1 yeah there has been a lot of people realising that life is too short and looking for other roles right across the board. I would stay on the nhs nurse bank but I’m scared of ruining my life! Sounds dramatic but it’s how I’m feeling. Surely being a deputy manager in a care home has to be better than working in an acute ward with no staff and no morale. But maybe not

I’ve got a similar thread in chat. I’ve been nhs both hospital & community for years but I’m fed up of it. I’ve seen a specialist job with the council that pays the same but like others it’s the excellent A/L & pension that keeps me tethered. Although I have heard some councils let you transfer.

What about trying substance misuse they take general nurses. Really rewarding, you make a real difference

@Offredismysister have you? I haven’t seen it. Are you going to go for the council job? I just feel like subconsciously I’ve been told that NHS is best and I’d be mad to leave. But obviously nursing doesn’t just take place within the NHS. I normally trust my gut instinct but I’m genuinely conflicted and don’t know what to do

@Laaaaa yeah that area would interest me but in my trust the jobs just don’t come up often.

Have you any nursing home experience?
I'd be wary of a home willing to appoint you as deputy unless you have some care home experience, even bank, plus solid management skills and cote experience. Roles in good homes are coveted, roles in not so great homes aren't.
You'll likely get very basic pension, and won't have the sick / maternity pay the NHS offers.
You'll also be at the whim of the owners, and won't have all your years of service behind you should your face not fit.

@FlorenceNightshade I would maybe ask at your interview what would happen if any of the nurses rang in sick who would cover it. My deputy although abit different to you with us being residential would be the one who covered the shift, our provider wouldn't use agency staff if there was no staff to cover the shift it was left to me or the deputy. Management is a stressful CQC put a lot of pressure on homes and then there's the added extra's of safeguarding, local council audits/inspections, dealing with upset family's, medication rounds, dealing with GP's. It's a hard call you could write a pro's and con's list to the nhs job and this job. I don't mean to put you off or be a Debbie down about it I think there's ups and downs to both jobs.

@Gardenwalldilema do you work in a nursing home? Is the pension that bad? I do have limited experience and it’s a trainee role Im being offered with the chance to progress into management

@Mumofgirl1 no you’re not being a downer that’s really helpful and why I asked the mumsmet massive for help! All my nurse friends work in the NHS so I’ve no one in real life whose brain I can pick!

Perhaps it’s not an NHS vs private hospital that’s troubling you but NHS vs care home. I am a senior nurse in the independent sector and love it. We have many of the same pressures including staffing levels and pay. We are currently stressed with NHS contracts and clearing the backlog. There is more support, better career progression and networking is easier. The NHS is a big machine and the wheels turn slowly in a chaotic manner

Are there any research nurse or pharma jobs in your area? I don’t have experience of these, but sometimes it’s good to look more broadly.

Care homes are massively underfunded and understaffed. I think it would be more stressful than working within the nhs.

Have you considered working for an independent provider for the nhs? Usually better pay and you still qualify for nhs pension.

@FlorenceNightshade I'm NHS bit I've friends in nursing homes, so I know a bit about the pros and cons.
They'll often offer a salary of 6-10k more than you're on now, but thats your lot, the package will be worth less overall.
Maybe join the bank of a home and see how its run.
Really good point raised by @Mumofgirl1 you may be expected to do extra, and your work / life balance could suffer.

That’s a good point @lateSeptember1964. There aren’t any close by private hospitals, they shut a few years ago. Maybe it is the thought of not working in a hospital that’s giving me a headache

@cricketmum84 I’ve never heard of working for a provider. I’ll need to look into that thank you

Where are you based

@Namenic again in my area jobs in those departments are rarely available. I’ve never really considered them because they seemed a bit niche but I’ll definitely keep an eye out

@lateSeptember1964 I’m in Scotland.

@Gardenwalldilema I did wonder if the higher salary and “golden hello” was to make up for lower pension etc