To leave nursing and go into hotel management

[Givenupgivingashit]

I'm absolutely fucked. Just finished a 14hr shift on a busy acute ward, literally 20mins break for a wee and a cup of tea and that's it. And it's the same all the time now. I'm sitting here with a whisky, my head is pounding and my feet are killing me, I can feel them burning through my tights. And it's like this every shift and I can't do any more. But I don't know what else I could do. I've got management experience in the NHS, and the only other job I've ever really done is in hospitality as a hotel employee before I came into nursing. I did the usual round of housekeeping/reception/waitressing/kitchen runner so I've got a reasonable idea of how it all works. But I'd need to go into it at a higher level to maintain a similar income.
Does anyone have any experience of working in a hotel as a manager? What's it like?

I think hospitality or cheffing would be the worst possible things to move onto from nursing!

Genuinely, get some help with your CV because as a nurse you will have loads of transferable skills that could slot you into a new role elsewhere, maybe even one that pays the same at a 35 hour week.

Shit I didn't realise I'd allowed voting, sorry.
You mean because of the shifts/running around, etc. I don't mind shifts and being busy. It's just the relentless feeling of being undervalued and under resourced and no prospect of things improving

If you don't like feeling undervalued and under-resourced, I'm not sure hospitality is the best move. I would imagine hotel managers get shouted at a lot by unreasonable guests.

Not my area though; hopefully, an actual hotel manager will come along and comment!

How about a private nurse or injectable’s clinic?
Still maintain your registration but only have 1 patient to care for at a time?

Ah I used to be a hotel duty manager.

I moved over to the 3rd sector.

Hospitality management is ok, if you don't mind being shouted at on a daily basis either on the telephone or face to face by guests. In a good hotel, and with good teams it can be enjoyable, as the staff.morale keeps you going.

But the general public are unforgiving and you basically have to stand there and take verbal abuse constantly, and we don't have any signs that say "verbal abuse to staff will not be tolerated" no on site security, no support form the public for being a NHS worker.

Just screamed at because the door slammed at 3am on the corridor, that housekeeping hands folded the bathroom towels well enough, that the guest next door had their TV on low at 2am.....the list goes on.

I'd look at 3rd sector work, management roles, you'll have lots of transferrable skills.

I worked as hotel sales manager roles throughout my career, I agree with the other poster I wouldn't recommend moving into hospitality sector, it is not so different from where you are. I strongly suggest looking into clinical research assistant or associate roles in clinical trial industry, coming from a nursing background you will find many roles in this sector and the pay is usually very good with better work life balance. Good luck

I was in hotel management before my current career - was working 60+ hrs every week for £16k a year as a front desk manager (18 years ago, but still…)
The worst part for me was dealing with all the ridiculous petty complaints from guests. Think along the lines of “there’s a baby crying somewhere along our corridor”, “I saw a bat outside”, “there’s a piece of plastic in my room service meal” (it was the corner of their butter packet that they’d opened themselves), “I know I’ve turned up a week earlier than I booked for but you should have expected me anyway and not be sold out”. Not to mention the advances from certain male guests, and the fights at weddings etc.

It was pretty soul-destroying and I’d never go back to it. I’m sure you have lots of other transferable skills you could use to get something where you do feel valued, because I suspect most hospitality jobs won’t give you that.

Its hard work, long and unsociable hours, often split shifts. I don't think it's any better than nursing, but less well paid and less opportunity for promotion.

Yep I see where you're coming from re. the general abuse from guests, not dissimilar to arsey patients. As I was told when I was training, just because they're ill doesn't make them nice people. Having said that, I enjoy the generally positive interactions with the public, and I don't know whether I'd miss that in a more 'back office' role?

Would you consider community nursing instead? I'm an AHP, and was exhausted on a ward, it was relentless with no time to piss or get a drink.

I moved to a community based post, and although it's still busy, the intensity isn't quite so bad.

That's a thought, how do you find it? I'm honestly just so pissed off with ward nursing right now

You get very rare "positive interactions" with general public as the manager, nobody asks to speak to the manager to deliver positive reviews as a guest.

Basically they've spent 20minites screaming at the young receptionist, and now they "want the manager"....

65+ hour working weeks, weekend working constantly. Easter, bank holidays, Christmas day, you'll be working. Kiss family life goodbye, late nights followed by early morning starts. Think 10pm finish then a 6am start.

Drunk guests, fighting guests, stag do's that smash up the golf bar, warring teenage staff full of hormones and inconsistent ability to turn up to shifts.

Then you have to worry about fires, drug taking on your premises, possible prostitution use at your 4* resort by business men. Sadly unexpected death of guests.

All that for like 23k a year....madness pure madness 🤣

Fuck me, seriously? I don't remember any of that when I worked in a hotel but then I was young and junior and oblivious to stuff like that

How about outpatients? Regular shifts, probably no or few weekends, no night shifts, and scope for extended roles. Also one patient at a time.
There are so many different roles in nursing, I think you’re ready to try a new one, good luck.

🤣🤣 ever wonder why hospitality managers smoke like chimneys and dissapeared occasionally. It's so we could crawl into a dark cupboard and cry.

When your junior it's a job, you get to laugh with your mates, get some money, and nothing is ever your responsibility really.

But once you get to manager like duty/hotel. Every single guest and staffs wellbeing/experience alongside the actual building and infrastructure is suddenly your responsibility....daily.

It's just the relentless feeling of being undervalued and under resourced and no prospect of things improving

OP, for this comment alone, don't jump ship to hospitality. It absolutely is no better post-Brexit and Covid. Actually, given it's the same across Europe, I'd say Covid had the biggest impact on staffing, thousands left the industry when hotels were forced to close and nine months after full reopening many hotels are still recruiting for housekeeping, bar and restaurant and front of house.

You're right I'm sure. I'm over reacting because I'm just knackered and pissed off. But there's no point in leaving this and going into something that's even more shit. Sorry if I'm rambling, combination of whisky and having nodded off on the sofa.

I enjoyed it. I had no weekend working and only occasional evenings. No nights at all.

I've side stepped into a learning disabilities community role now and it's great. I get to know my patients and their carers really well, and we actually have fun some times!

Most of my nursing colleagues have left for private rehab units, they say it’s less stressful.

Who knew there were that many private rehab units in the country.

I’m a nurse of some 30 years plus. Took semi retirement and now doing 2 12 hour shifts in a care home at the bottom of my street and loving it!!! No commute. Good hourly rate and a tolerable level of work. Downsides are you don’t get sick pay or extra for weekends/nights like you do in the NHS. I’ve only ever worked in hospitality as a teen but I can’t imagine it being much better than nursing. My advice would be to get out the wards and/or do agency and work less hours.

good luck -,I know how brutal ward nursing is at the moment!!

Botox

Go into cosmetic nursing. Work for yourself.

MarshaMelrose they largely got recruited to work in the same one, but yes there is plenty of work out there for nurses believe it or not.

There are so many other options. Community, outpatients, research, industry or education. The latter is booming at the moment, because most undergraduate nursing courses are very keen to increase their student numbers.

I honestly think that ward nursing has a shelf life. Once you've been there for ten years maximum, it's time to move on.

A friend of mine is an abortion nurse. It's perhaps not for everyone, but she doesn't have to work shifts. Another friend is a GP nurse. Same thing.