To leave nursing and to what?

[ohsotired2022]

Posting here for traffic.

Know this has been done before but really stuck.
Been nursing for 20 years and just had enough.
I hear about nurses leaving in their droves but where are they going to?

If you've left, what do you do now?

Are you happier ?

I'd love to open up a shop selling lovely things but seeing the amount of shops closing on my high street I don't think this is the time to set up shop.

Any ideas? I'm in my 40's so still got a way to go before I retire.

I could retire in the NHS at 60 so wondering whether to just stick it out.

What is it that makes you want to leave nursing? And what is it that you enjoy about nursing?

Have you considered moving into a different role? If you are working in a ward environment maybe you’d find outpatients or practice nursing an easier environment? I’m not suggesting they are easy but the shifts are usually shorter.

I think I just feel tired of dealing with peoples problems all day.
I am in the community and work shorter days than if I'm hospital.
Our workload is ever increasing. There is so much expected of us and it can feel overwhelming.
I'd like to just go to work and then come away.

I feel tied to my pension though as have been paying in for 20 years and now got less to go until retirement.

It just feels like it zaps me at times.

The NHS pension is better than a self employed private pension, so when looking at new job's definitely take that into consideration.

Also retail you still deal with customers, long hours and if it's your own business you won't be leaving work at work.

Have you looks at other non nursing roles in the NHS? A lot of admin work is work from home now, planning and development, research, teaching? I can completely sympathise with nurses being burnt out and can understand why anyone starting a career would pick a different path. But remember you have skill which are valuable, and they are transferable.

Also the NHS offer career breaks up to 5 years. So if you want to try something new take a look, and then if it doesn't work out you can return.

Thanks for suggestions @Undomesticated678 I've through t about lecturing but where I live most lecturers post want you to have a masters. Although the time I've been thinking about leaving nursing I could have completed a masters by now!

@Undomesticated678
A career break sounds good.
Can you work in another area while doing this and your job is held for you and pension contributions frozen so no break in service ?

Have you thought about roles in a boarding school, for example, if there's any near you? Ours is always looking for school nurses, matrons etc. With your nursing experience, they would snap you up!

There are boarding schools near me.
Will check out their job vacancies.
I always feel really stuck when looking for jobs and always look at the available nursing roles.
I feel after nursing for so long I find it hard to think outside the box and what else I can do. And then always feel worried about stepping away from Nhs pension.